Pope Francis said on Sunday he was “concerned” about the growing tensions between the state and the Catholic Church in Nicaragua, two days after the arrest of Bishop Rolando Alvarez, a critic of the regime. “I would like to express my conviction and my hope that, through an open and sincere dialogue, we can still find the bases of a respectful and peaceful coexistence,” the pope said after the Angelus prayer. .
Bishop Alvarez, bishop of Matagalpa, was arrested in the early hours of Friday and “under house arrest” according to the Nicaraguan police who had been surrounding the bishopric since August 4. The police cited the bishop’s “destabilizing and provocative” activities. Eight other people, including five priests and lay people, were taken with him, according to the Episcopal Council for Latin America and the Caribbean (Celam).
“His physical condition has deteriorated”
The Cardinal and Archbishop of Managua, Leopoldo Brenes, then clarified that Bishop Alvarez was being held in a family residence where he was able to meet him, noting that “his physical condition has deteriorated”, but that his “spirit and morale are strong”.
The other eight are being held in El Chipote prison, according to the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (Cenidh). The United Nations and the Organization of American States have expressed their concern. The government has put pressure on the Bishop of Matagalpa since he denounced the authorities’ closure of five Catholic radio stations in his diocese and demanded “respect” for freedom of worship and an end to “harassment”. imposed on the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis calls for help
Last Sunday, the diocese of Sinua denounced the arrest of one of its priests, Oscar Benavidez, whose prosecution requested the placement in pre-trial detention for 90 days. On Wednesday, 26 former heads of state and government from Spain and Latin America appealed to Pope Francis to “stand firmly in defense of the Nicaraguan people and their religious freedom,” accusing Daniel Ortega of “ primitive dictatorship.
Relations between the Catholic Church and the government have been strained since 2018 when protesters demanding the resignation of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega took refuge in churches. The repression of the demonstrations left more than 350 dead.
More than 180 “political prisoners” detained in Nicaragua
Daniel Ortega has accused the Catholic clergy of complicity in the coup attempt hatched by Washington. The crisis even led to the expulsion in March of the Apostolic Nuncio, Bishop Waldemar Sommertag. By attacking the Catholic Church, after having silenced all his opponents, Daniel Ortega, 76, re-elected in 2021 for a fourth consecutive term in a ballot from which all his potential opponents of weight were absent, arrested or forced into exile, continues his quest for absolute power in Nicaragua.
According to the European Union, Nicaragua holds more than 180 “political prisoners” and during the first half of 2022 the country’s authorities closed more than 1,200 civil society organizations.