Caracas Archdiocese reports Venezuela earthquakes damaged 25 churches

CARACAS, Venezuela — Of the more than 100 churches in the Archdiocese of Caracas, at least 25 sustained damage of varying types and severity following the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24.

The data was provided by Father Neptalí Balza, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Caracas, in an interview with Unión Radio . In addition to extensive material damage, the earthquakes have left to date a devastating toll of over 4,000 dead and tens of thousands injured or otherwise affected.

“Of those 25, the majority are — let’s put it this way — not holding Mass inside the churches; instead, they are being held outdoors for safety reasons, because here the most important thing — aside from the church building itself, of course — is the parishioners. We must not needlessly put peopleʼs lives at risk,” the priest explained.

Balza also noted that the oldest religious structures were the most affected, citing San José de Ñaraulí Church in Cotiza, Caracas, as an example; it suffered the total collapse of its left transept. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Pagüita and the adjacent parish school also have “serious structural issues.”

Similarly, Our Lady of Mercy…