Relatives of two Argentine detainees in Venezuela have formally appealed to the Vatican for assistance in securing the release of their loved ones, coinciding with a partial prisoner release initiative launched by Venezuelan officials.
The plea was conveyed by the wives of Nahuel Agustín Gallo, a national security officer who was detained on December 8, 2024, and German Giuliani, an attorney imprisoned since May 2025. They submitted a formal request to the Catholic Church in Buenos Aires, seeking urgent intervention by the Holy See.
Alexandra Gomez, the spouse of Gallo, described the prolonged ordeal, stating that her husband has been "forcibly disappeared in Venezuela for 411 days." She expressed frustration over staggered releases, remarking, "There are still many innocent people missing, many who need to be released. These piecemeal releases only wear down the families."
The families addressed a letter directly to Pope Leo and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, appealing to the humanitarian commitment of the Vatican in defending human dignity, freedom, and fundamental rights. Moreover, the petition underscored the urgent need to protect both the physical and psychological health of those detained.
Alongside the petitioners, family members and supporters of Venezuelan political prisoners gathered outside the Catholic Church, holding photographs of detainees, national flags, and placards carrying messages such as "They took them alive, we want them back alive" and "Political prisoners are not bargaining chips."
Virginia Rivero, Giuliani’s wife, reflected on their meeting with church officials, stating, "We were glad they received us, but it felt a bit lukewarm. There were things they perhaps didn’t know."
The recent wave of prisoner releases by Venezuela’s interim government has been accompanied by ongoing detentions, highlighting persistent political tensions in the country. Caracas is reportedly aiming to alleviate domestic pressures and demonstrate a potential thaw in relations with Washington amid heightened confrontations between the two nations.