As Nicaragua’s Sandinista regime effectively extinguishes civil society groups and religious orders, Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa has given his first interview since being exiled to the Vatican 12 months ago. Source: OSV News.
Asked how the faithful can endure in the face of such persecution, the bishop cited Pope Francis’ urging of the faithful “to turn to the Immaculate Conception”, the patroness of Nicaragua.
Bishop Álvarez also advised young people “to be brave” like St Joseph and emulate his “courage and trust in Providence”.
In Nicaragua, the January 8 edition of the La Gaceta – Diario Oficial, the government’s official journal, reported that the Interior Ministry revoked the legal status of the Foundation of Contemplative Dominican Nuns, citing a “voluntary dissolution” due to a “decrease in its members and a lack of resources to carry out its projects”. Another 14 organisations also had their legal status revoked, including evangelical churches, charitable groups and Save the Children International.
Nicaragua has cancelled the legal status of more than 5400 religious and nongovernmental groups over the past six years as the government of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, closed spaces for civil society, persecuted the press and the opposition, and infringed on basic rights such as the freedom of association.
The couple, who have submitted a constitutional reform to make them co-presidents, have infringed on freedom of worship, too – with priests, bishops and religious either exiled and forced to flee the country.
Bishop Álvarez was exiled to Rome with 18 detained churchmen in January 2024 after being sentenced to 26 years in prison on trumped-up charges of conspiracy and spreading false information.
The bishop gave his first interview since being exiled to a Spanish publication, La Tribuna de Albacete.
He told the publication on January 12 that he travelled to Spain on a pastoral visit, checking in on priests and seminarians from Nicaragua working and studying in the region.
“I always try to be close to my priests,” Bishop Álvarez said. “For me, this is the main pastoral task, even before any other preferential option.
“They are my sons, my brothers, my friends and my closest collaborators in the apostolic and evangelising mission that the Lord has entrusted to me.”
FULL STORY
Bishop Álvarez gives first interview since exile from Nicaragua (By David Agren, OSV News)
