The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem expressed its solidarity with Cardinal Baltazar Porras Cardozo and with the Venezuelan people, during a solemn session held in Spain, in which it condemned the restrictions imposed by the government of Nicolás Maduro that prevented the Venezuelan prelate from leaving the country.
According to the media Catholic Lay Reportthe event took place on December 17, 2025 in the historic Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, in Toledo, where the Order held a solemn investiture in which Cardinal Porras Cardozo, archbishop emeritus of Caracas, and Don José Antonio Rodríguez Rodríguez were honored, in the presence of representatives of the Priory of Venezuela.
They condemn the “illegitimate government” of Venezuela
During the ceremony, the Master of Ceremonies of the Order, the doctor in History of Spain and professor at the Complutense University of Madrid, Manuel Touronspoke words of strong critical content when referring to the absence of the Venezuelan cardinal. Touron condemned the “illegitimate government” of Venezuela for having prevented Porras from traveling to Spain, despite his high ecclesiastical hierarchy.
According to him, the official decision constituted an act of contempt for diplomatic and international regulations, by invalidating the cardinal’s diplomatic passport, issued by the Vatican Secretariat of State. The Order described the event as a serious affront not only against the Catholic Church, but also against the basic principles of institutional respect and religious freedom.
The members of the Order of Saint Lazarus deeply regretted the situation and expressed their support for Cardinal Porras, as well as “an entire country that, like him, suffers the injustices of a dark and violent dictatorial regime,” according to the report.
They also expressed their hope that in the near future can receive Cardinal Baltazar Porras in Spain “with all the honors that this Order deserves”once the restrictions that today prevent him from fully exercising his functions and moving freely outside of Venezuela have been overcome.
