I have been deeply saddened by the devastation wrought by the recent earthquakes in Venezuela, in which so many precious lives have been lost and many more have been injured. I offer my prayers for those who have perished, and express my heartfelt sympathy and concern to all who have been affected by this tragedy.
At our core, we are all the same human beings. We all seek happiness and wish to be spared such suffering. It is in this spirit of our shared humanity that we each bear a responsibility to help and support one another. I am therefore greatly encouraged that hundreds of international rescue workers have already arrived in Venezuela to stand alongside its people to help in this hour of profound grief.
I would also wish to say how deeply moved I remain by the openness and enthusiasm shown by people from all walks of life in Venezuela — during my four-day visit in 1992 — toward the values I have been promoting: loving-kindness, compassion, contentment, self-discipline, and harmony among the world's religious traditions. That same warmth of spirit, I have no doubt, will carry the Venezuelan people through this most difficult time.
With my prayers,
Dalai Lama
27 June 2026
