Venezuelan Opposition Leader Meets Pope Amid Political Prisoner Release Dispute

Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado met Pope Leo at the Vatican, seeking his support for the release of political prisoners amid ongoing political turmoil following the U.S. capture of President Nicolas Maduro. The Venezuelan government announced the release of 116 prisoners linked to acts against national stability, though rights groups report lower figures and allege many remain detained. Machado, barred from the 2024 election, continues to advocate for democratic transition and prisoner releases, while the pope has called for human rights protection and opposed military force in Venezuela.