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Machado attends mass in Panama, says Venezuelans united in grief
🇲🇽 Mexico /Disasters & Emergencies

Machado attends mass in Panama, says Venezuelans united in grief

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Opposition leader María Corina Machado attended a mass in Panama City, stating that Venezuelans are united in grief following a major earthquake.
  • She expressed faith in Venezuela's recovery and thanked Panamanians for their welcome.
  • The earthquake on June 24 caused thousands of deaths and disappearances, primarily affecting La Guaira.

Opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado attended a Sunday mass in Panama City, where she stated that the profound grief from the powerful seismic doublet that struck northern Venezuela on June 24 has united Venezuelans. The earthquake left thousands dead and missing.

Machado, accompanied by former Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso, attended the service officiated by Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa at the Santa María La Antigua Cathedral. "Today is a time when we are meeting in deep pain, but also in the faith that Venezuela will rise, and all I want to say today is gratitude to the people of Panama, to each of you for how you have welcomed us. Venezuela will rise with more strength than ever, this pain has united us, it has fused us," Machado told reporters.

Today is a time when we are meeting in deep pain, but also in the faith that Venezuela will rise, and all I want to say today is gratitude to the people of Panama, to each of you for how you have welcomed us. Venezuela will rise with more strength than ever, this pain has united us, it has fused us.

— María Corina MachadoThe opposition leader spoke to reporters after attending a mass in Panama City.

This appearance marks Machado's first public outing in Panama since she reported on June 29 that her attempt to return to Venezuela was thwarted by the government closing the airspace. During the mass, which was dedicated to the earthquake victims, Archbishop Ulloa offered his "respect and closeness" to Machado, assuring her of his "prayer that the Lord may enlighten her, strengthen her, and sustain her in the responsibility she has assumed in service to her people."

Archbishop Ulloa also called for "concrete gestures" of solidarity towards the Venezuelan earthquake victims through collections to be channeled via Caritas Panama and Caritas Venezuela. The Venezuelan government reported at least 2,954 deaths from the earthquakes, which particularly affected La Guaira, the coastal area near Caracas, causing dozens of buildings to collapse on June 24, a national holiday when many families were home.

I pray that the Lord may enlighten her, strengthen her, and sustain her in the responsibility she has assumed in service to her people.

— Archbishop José Domingo UlloaThe Archbishop of Panama offered his support to Machado during a mass dedicated to earthquake victims.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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