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 Church and the Caracas Cathedral have sustained “more or less serious” damage.
The vicar general noted that, of the 25 affected churches, the majority have already been assessed by qualified personnel, and reports indicate that at least half (between eight and 10 buildings) show significant damage.
The priest noted that the archdiocese is already considering restoration projects for these buildings and urged that it be kept in mind that several of them are “national monuments and historical heritage sites”; therefore, “it is advisable, even if they have sustained significant damage, to try to carry out projects to save the heritage and structures of those churches.”
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Kamar Galíndez credits his survival to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Miraculous Medal he wore was torn from his neck as the building collapsed and inexplicably ended up in one of his zippered pockets.
Facts Only
* At least 25 churches in the Archdiocese of Caracas sustained damage from the earthquakes on June 24.
* The total toll includes over 4,000 dead and tens of thousands injured or affected.
* Most of the 25 affected churches are being held outdoors for safety reasons rather than holding Mass inside.
* San José de Ñaraulí Church in Cotiza suffered a total collapse of its left transept.
* Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and the adjacent parish school have serious structural issues.
* Our Lady of Mercy Church and the Caracas Cathedral sustained "more or less serious" damage.
* Qualified personnel have assessed the damage to the majority of the 25 affected churches.
* At least half of the affected buildings (between eight and ten) show significant damage.
* The archdiocese is considering restoration projects for these buildings.
* Several affected churches are designated as national monuments and historical heritage sites.
Executive Summary
Full Take
The narrative frames disaster response through the lens of physical preservation intersecting with community well-being. The tension lies between immediate safety—evidenced by moving services outdoors—and the long-term imperative to save historical and spiritual heritage. The explicit mention of national monuments introduces a layer of consequence: structural failure carries cultural and historical weight beyond mere property loss, suggesting that recovery is not solely about rebuilding structures but safeguarding identity. Furthermore, the focus on the safety of parishioners over the physical sanctity of the buildings highlights a prioritization shift during crisis management. The story also subtly positions religious institutions as custodians of history, implicitly arguing for their restoration based on cultural value, rather than purely economic utility. The attribution to a personal narrative regarding survival, while emotionally resonant, functions as an ancillary element—a separate focus that exists alongside the systemic damage assessment. This structure suggests a pattern where immediate physical devastation is contextualized by a higher, slower mandate of heritage preservation.
BRIDGE QUESTIONS: If restoration projects are prioritized for historical sites, what metrics should balance the need for structural stability against the intangible cultural value embedded in these specific monuments? How can disaster recovery frameworks better integrate the protection of cultural heritage with immediate life safety protocols across all institutional types? What mechanisms exist to ensure that statements about heritage preservation translate into concrete, equitable resource allocation for affected communities?
Sentinel — Human
The text reads like a factual report derived from an interview, focusing on specific local figures and documented events, which points toward human journalistic origin rather than pure synthetic generation.