Pope Francis expressed "concern" regarding the escalating tension between the state and the Catholic Church in Nicaragua following the arrest of opposition bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa. The Pope announced that he is closely and sorrowfully following the situation in Nicaragua amid the worsening dispute between the church and the government, which is accused of authoritarianism.
After the Angelus prayer, he stated, "I want to express my conviction and hope that through open and sincere dialogue, it is still possible to find a basis for peaceful coexistence based on respect." The Catholic Church in Nicaragua has faced increasing pressure from the government since anti-government protests in 2018 were met with a crackdown that resulted in hundreds of deaths. President Daniel Ortega insists that the protests were part of an opposition plan backed by Washington to oust him and has accused bishops of complicity. The Vatican reported that Nicaragua expelled the papal ambassador in March.
Álvarez was arrested on Friday on charges of engaging in "destabilizing and provocative" activities aimed at undermining the Central American state. His arrest came two weeks after police imposed a siege on his official residence in Matagalpa after he criticized the closure of church-affiliated radio and television stations.
His supporters reported that Álvarez was "violently" taken to an unknown location, prompting concern from the United Nations and the Organization of American States. The Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM) announced that eight others, including five clergy members, were also taken with Álvarez to Managua and are being investigated.
The church later stated that Álvarez is being held at "his family's home," where Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes was permitted to visit him. The Archdiocese of Managua indicated in a statement that Brenes noted, "the physical condition [of the bishop] has deteriorated," but "his spirit remains strong."
The other eight are detained in El Chipote prison, which is typically used for holding opponents, according to the Nicaragua Center for Human Rights. Last week, the center reported that another priest in Nicaragua, named Oscar Benavidez, was "pulled from his vehicle and taken by patrol car to an unknown destination."
The European Union indicates that Nicaragua has more than 180 "political prisoners." According to the bloc, Nicaraguan authorities closed over 1,200 civil society organizations in the first half of 2022.
