Relatives of two Argentines detained in Venezuela have appealed to the Vatican for help after presenting a formal petition in Buenos Aires. The wives of Nahuel Agustín Gallo and German Giuliani urged Pope Leo and Cardinal Pietro Parolin to act, citing humanitarian concerns and the wellbeing of detainees. Demonstrators joined the families as Venezuela begins selective releases amid broader political tension and a possible diplomatic thaw with the United States.
Argentine Families Appeal to Vatican as Venezuela Begins Selective Prisoner Releases
Victor, son of Argentine Gendarmerie officer Nahuel Gallo, detained in Venezuela, holds a poster as he stands with relatives outside the Apostolic Nunciature along with activists to ask the Vatican to press Venezuelan authorities for the detainees' release, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, January 23, 2026. REUTERS/Pedro Lazaro Fernandez
BUENOS AIRES, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Relatives of two Argentine nationals detained in Venezuela delivered a formal petition to the Catholic Church in Buenos Aires on Friday, asking the Vatican to intervene to help secure their release as Caracas has begun freeing some detainees.
The petition was presented by the wives of Nahuel Agustín Gallo, a national security officer detained on Dec. 8, 2024, and German Giuliani, a lawyer imprisoned since May 2025. The letter, seen by Reuters, was addressed to "Pope Leo" and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, and appealed to "the humanitarian sensitivity and the permanent commitment of the Holy See to the defense of human dignity, freedom and fundamental rights."
Maria Alexandra Gomez, wife of Argentine Gendarmerie officer Nahuel Gallo, and Virginia Rivero and Vanesa Giuliani, the wife and sister of Argentine lawyer German Giuliani, both men detained in Venezuela, stand outside the Apostolic Nunciature with activists to ask the Vatican to press Venezuelan authorities for the detainees’ release, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, January 23, 2026. REUTERS/Pedro Lazaro Fernandez
"There are still many innocent people missing, many who need to be released," said Alexandra Gomez, Gallo's wife. "These piecemeal releases only wear down the families."
Gomez said her husband had been "forcibly disappeared in Venezuela for 411 days." Relatives asked the Vatican to take immediate steps to safeguard the physical and psychological wellbeing of detainees.
Vanesa Giuliani, sister of Argentine lawyer German Giuliani, who has been held in a Venezuelan prison since May 2025, talks to the press outside the Apostolic Nunciature along with activists to ask the Vatican to press Venezuelan authorities for the detainees' release, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, January 23, 2026. REUTERS/Pedro Lazaro Fernandez
The two women were joined outside the church by relatives and friends of Venezuelan political prisoners who carried photographs of the detained, national flags and placards reading, "They took them alive, we want them back alive" and "Political prisoners are not bargaining chips."
"We were glad they received us," said Virginia Rivero, Giuliani's wife. "But it felt a bit lukewarm. There were things they perhaps didn’t know," she added.
Maria Alexandra Gomez, wife of Nahuel Gallo, an Argentine gendarmerie officer detained in Venezuela since December 2024, talks to the press outside the Apostolic Nunciature along with activists to ask the Vatican to press Venezuelan authorities for the detainees' release, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, January 23, 2026. REUTERS/Pedro Lazaro Fernandez
Venezuela's interim authorities have begun releasing political prisoners and other detainees, though many remain behind bars amid ongoing political tension. Observers say the wave of releases appears aimed at easing domestic pressure and potentially signaling a thaw with Washington after heightened U.S.–Venezuela confrontations.
(Report by Horacio Soria and Lucila Sigal; edited by Cassandra Garrison and Nick Zieminski)
Help us improve.
