The Nicaraguan Cardinal and Archbishop of Managua, Leopoldo Brenes, affirmed on Saturday that the Church hopes to find a way out of the situation of Bishop Rolando Álvarez, held for nine days in his curia by the police, accused of trying to "destabilize" the country.
"All our churches are praying, accompanying him (Álvarez) and we ask the Virgin that we soon find the channels to solve (the problem) and that we can continue working to evangelize"Brenes told AFP, after presiding over a mass in honor of the Virgin of Fatima, in the Managua Cathedral.
However, he admitted that immediately "No" sees a solution to the crisis Álvarez is experiencingfrom the Diocese of Matagalpa, in the north of Nicaragua
"The whole church is praying for the Lord to enlighten us, so that we always seek the channels of peace, reconciliation and forgiveness."said Brenes, also vice president of the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua (CEN).
Álvarez, a strong critic of the government of Daniel Ortega and a member of the CEN, has not been able to leave the curia since last August 4, where he remains with 10 other people, as it is surrounded by a wide police cordon.
The bishop was besieged after denouncing the authorities’ decision to close five Catholic radio stations and require the government to respect "freedom" religious.
Police said they are investigating Álvarez for trying "organize violent groups" and incite to "hatred" with the "purpose of destabilizing the State of Nicaragua".
The investigations against the religious take place amid the tense relations that the Catholic Church has had with the Ortega government since the opposition protests of 2018, when several temples opened their doors to shelter the injured protesters and those fleeing from the repression.
Ortega, who has governed since 2007, considers that these demonstrations were part of a failed coup plotted by the opposition, with the support of Washington and the complicity of the bishops.
"sad repression"
This Saturday, Cardinal Brenes led a procession in honor of the Virgin of Fatima within the grounds of the Managua Cathedral, after which he advocated at a mass for the "sorry" and coexistence "between brothers" ·
"Mary as a mother teaches us to forgive and not to return blow for blow, not to return offense for offense, but always to show love (…) to break down the walls and so that we can all truly be brothers"exhorted Brenes.
Hundreds of Catholics said goodbye to the image of Fatima, a replica that arrived from Portugal 31 months ago and that this month concludes its journey through Nicaragua.
Police closely watched the cathedral during the mass, after prohibiting a pilgrimage with the Virgin through the streets of the capital on Friday.
Although "the difficulties that our people have had to be present in the act of farewell to our holy virgin, here we are some Nicaraguans"said José Dolores Blandino, a parishioner.
"Many more people could have arrived if we did not have this sad repression"said for her part Tania Sequeira, also attending the celebration
The woman sympathized with Álvarez, whom she considered a "pursued" for talking "of the suffering of the people from the north (of Nicaragua), who emigrate in search of new opportunities due to the difficult situation in our country".
