The parents of Venezuelan journalist Carlos Marcano They sent a letter to Pope Leo XIV in which they request his intervention to achieve the release of their son, who has been detained since May 23, after being accused by the Venezuelan government of participating in an alleged plan against the regional and parliamentary elections of May 25.
In the letter, published on InstagramJosé Ramón Marcano and Gladys Mogollón express concern for the journalist’s health: “Your Holiness, our son not only suffers the injustice of confinement, but his mental health is seriously compromised. Carlos Rafael suffers from depression and anxiety and was under medical treatment at the time of his arrest.”
They denounced that the “inhuman and uncertain conditions” of their detention interrupt their medical and psychological treatment in a “serious and unacceptable” manner.
They warned that the confinement puts their son’s life at risk: “We fear for the accelerated deterioration of your health. The deprivation of his liberty, added to the interruption of his treatment and his coping mechanisms, constitutes a disproportionate and inhumane sentence that puts his life at risk.”
Taking advantage of the canonization of José Gregorio Hernández and Carmen Rendiles, The Marcano parents asked the Pope to intercede to free Carlos “for humanitarian health reasons.”
They called for the release of all political prisoners in Venezuela, who also “suffer the double sentence of confinement and the lack of decent medical care.”
“May the light of faith and justice that our future saints inspire in us, illuminate those who can restore freedom to our son and so many others,” they stated.
