Terrifying explosions interrupted the sleep of millions in Caracas, Venezuela, around 2 a.m. local time on January 3. The explosions were part of Operation Absolute Resolve, a U.S. military action aimed at capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Residents described surviving the large-scale bombing as a miracle, with one woman clinging to a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A projectile landed in the yard of one resident, Elena Berti, while she was sleeping alone in her house.
about 2 months ago
On January 3, 2026, around 2 a.m., U.S. military forces launched Operation Absolute Resolve in Caracas, Venezuela, targeting antennas near El Volcán and aiming to capture President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.1 2
Explosions rocked the capital, affecting residents in eastern neighborhoods with severe structural damage extending over 660 feet from impact sites.1 2
Elena Berti, 78, was sleeping alone when a projectile landed 20 meters (65 feet) from her bedroom, shattering windows above her head and demolishing much of her home, including the kitchen and structural elements requiring partial demolition.1 2
Despite the devastation, Berti emerged unharmed; her daughter, Patricia Salazar, attributes this to divine intervention, noting her mother's rosary and saints' statues on the nightstand—some damaged but Berti spared.1 2
Arturo Berti, Elena's brother, had just left his living room minutes before the blast hit there, shaking the building and covering his bed in shattered glass.1 2
He and his wife took cover amid the chaos; Arturo calls it a miracle, stating that six meters closer would have been fatal, crediting God, the Virgin Mary, and St. José Gregorio.1 2
Adjacent residents Gracia Mónaco and daughter Ana María Campos suffered bedroom damage, with bent frames, cracked walls, and debris everywhere.1 2
A Virgin Mary statue Mónaco placed on her nightstand hours earlier remained intact amid the rubble, bolstering their faith and conviction that God protects in crises.1 2
The neighborhood faces widespread material and psychological trauma, yet survivors emphasize unwavering Catholic devotion amid 25 years of adversity.1 2
The Berti family launched a fundraising campaign for home reconstruction, with calls for donations of materials for neighbors' repairs.1 2
Examine Catholic teachings on divine intervention during wartime violence
Catholic teachings on divine intervention during wartime violence emphasize prayer as the primary means by which the faithful implore God's merciful action to end conflicts, protect the innocent, and restore peace. Rather than endorsing supernatural aid for victory in battle—such as miracles favoring one side—the Church consistently urges recourse to divine providence through intercession, particularly of the Blessed Virgin Mary, while distinguishing legitimate defense from any notion of "holy war." Popes have historically appealed for prayers during global conflicts, consecrated nations to Mary's Immaculate Heart, and blessed efforts aligned with justice, all while lamenting war's horrors and striving to prevent it.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church underscores that all war carries inherent evils and injustices, prompting the faithful to fervent prayer and action for deliverance. It states: "Because of the evils and injustices that accompany all war, the Church insistently urges everyone to prayer and to action so that the divine Goodness may free us from the ancient bondage of war." This plea echoes in the litany: "From famine, pestilence, and war, O Lord, deliver us," reflecting a tradition of seeking God's direct intervention to avert or halt violence.
This approach aligns with the just war tradition, which permits legitimate authorities to defend the common good against unjust aggression but always subordinates force to moral limits and prefers peace. War's destructiveness—loss of life, civilian suffering, and long-term devastation—demands exhaustive efforts to avoid it, with divine aid invoked as the ultimate remedy when human means fail.
Popes have repeatedly turned to prayer as a "holy crusade" amid wartime crises, framing divine intervention as God's response to collective supplication for justice and mercy. During World War II, Pius XII consecrated himself and humanity to Mary's Immaculate Heart, invoking her intercession when "all human resources and human plans proved ineffective." In 1945, as destruction raged, he called for May prayers to implore the "Father of light and mercy," urging recognition that "too many catastrophes... too many tears... too much blood" demanded an end to "hideous slaughter."
Earlier, in the "Hour of Darkness" of 1939, Pius XII expressed compassion for war-torn nations like Poland, faithful to the Church, and relied on Mary's intercession for resurrection "in harmony with the principles of justice and true peace." He lamented failed diplomatic efforts, quoting Christ: "If thou... hadst known... the things that are to thy peace; but now they are hidden from thy eyes." Benedict XV, during World War I, exhausted every means for peace while alleviating suffering through prayer. Post-war, Pius XII implored divine mercy for a "new order, based on truth, justice and charity," warning leaders of accountability to God's judgment.
These acts portray divine intervention not as partisan aid in combat but as providential restoration of order, often through heavenly mediation.
While popes have blessed "meritorious" deeds in just wars—such as Charlemagne's against the Saxons or William the Conqueror's at Hastings—these remain temporal acts for the common good, not spiritual crusades. Charles Journet clarifies: "Like all temporal activities that are morally legitimate, [these] just wars may... receive the approbation of the Church... [but] had no immediate relation with spiritual things." Papal involvement stays indirect, via teaching to safeguard natural order, without transforming wars into "holy wars."
Pius XII's 1939 blessing of Spain's "victory... crown[ing] the heroism of our faith" defended religion's rights, yet later popes rarely echoed such endorsements. Pius XII broadened "defense" to counter injustice beyond mere invasion, potentially including prevention of genocide, but always checked by law. This evolution prioritizes prayer over force, with no magisterial support for expecting divine warriors or miracles to secure military triumphs.
Catholic doctrine holds that grace perfects nature; thus, papal blessings for bravery in just defense honor temporal duties without sacralizing violence. Controversies arise over perceived shifts—e.g., from Aquinas permitting war to defend faith against unbelievers to modern emphasis on peace—but recent teachings like the Catechism take precedence, urging avoidance of war's "evils and injustices." Where sources touch divine intervention, it manifests in answered prayers for peace, not battlefield theophanies.
In summary, Catholic teachings frame divine intervention during wartime as God's merciful response to prayer, aimed at ending violence and fostering justice. The Church rejects holy war ideologies, blesses only morally constrained defense, and calls all to implore deliverance through Mary and the saints. This fosters hope amid suffering, urging fidelity to Christ's peace.