Nicaraguan authorities reportedly released an imprisoned Catholic bishop and vocal critic of the government on January 14 and immediately deported him from the country.
Bishop Rolando José Álvarez of the Diocese of Matagalpa was released and exiled to Vatican City, along with Bishop Isidro Mora of the Diocese of Siuna, 15 priests, two seminarians, and The Pillar. report.
Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega's communist regime reportedly imprisoned Bishop Alvarez in August 2022 and other bishops in December 2023. Bishop Alvarez was reportedly sentenced to 26 years in prison. Bishop Mora was arrested the day after he called for prayers for Alvarez in a Dec. 19, 2023, sermon.
According to the newspaper, the Nicaraguan government said its diplomatic agreement with the Vatican “guarantees the sending and receiving of bishops, priests and seminarians to and from the Vatican.” The United States reportedly participated in negotiations and accepted four priests, one interim deacon, and two seminarians in February 2023.
The Nicaraguan government released Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa, Bishop Isidro del Carmen Mora Ortega of Siuna, two seminarians, and 15 priests who arrived at the Vatican as guests of the Holy See.https://t.co/RTUaNPh6kF
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) January 15, 2024
The Nicaraguan regime has expelled about 110 Catholic clergy since 2018, and an unknown number of others have fled the country or refused to return, the newspaper said.
Alvarez, 56, was arrested after accusing Ortega of persecuting the Catholic Church and refusing to expel him along with four priests and 218 other political dissidents, according to Catholic News Agency (CNA). and was convicted. report. Alvarez was reportedly tried and convicted for treason and had his citizenship revoked. (Related article: “I don't believe in the Pope”: Nicaraguan president reportedly bans public Easter processions)
Bishops Rolando Álvarez and Isidro Mora, Catholic bishops released by Nicaragua's leftist government, celebrate Mass in Rome. pic.twitter.com/BPrl4d9qW3
— Sachin Jose (@Sachinettiyil) January 15, 2024
According to CNA, religious freedom has been restricted under the dictatorship of Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, and in March 2023, after Pope Francis likened Ortega's Nicaragua to Nazi Germany. severed ties with the Vatican.
Ortega claimed that in 2022, the Catholic Church was a “perfect dictatorship” and its bishops were “a bunch of murderers.” according to To the Christian news agency Aleteia. The regime reportedly arrested Alvarez on “crimes against spirituality,” alleging that he used social media to incite violence and destabilize Nicaragua.
The U.S. State Department criticized Ortega for arresting Alvarez and other political prisoners. The State Department also accused Ortega and Murillo of isolating Nicaragua by attacking educational institutions, civil society organizations, and the press. Statement of November 19, 2023.
