The Nicaraguan government has confirmed the release of the Bishop of Matagalpa, who has been imprisoned since 2022, along with the Bishop of Siona, two seminarians and 15 other priests.
Charlotta Smedes – Vatican City
Bishop Rolando Alvarez, who had been imprisoned for more than a year, Bishop Isidoro del Carmen Mora Ortega, two seminarians and 15 priests were released.
The Nicaraguan government released a total of 19 representatives of the Catholic Church.
All arrived in Rome on Sunday afternoon, except for one who remained in Venezuela. They are now guests of the Holy See.
Bishop Alvarez of Matagalpa and apostolic director of the Diocese of Estelí, sentenced to 26 years in prison, has been in prison since last February after being under house arrest since August 2022. Bishop Mora was arrested in December.
In his Angelus prayer at the beginning of the year, Pope Francis spoke about the situation of bishops and priests deprived of their liberty in the Central American country. He assured everyone of his “closeness in prayer” and called on God's people to pray for Nicaragua. He also expressed his hope that “one will always seek the path of dialogue to overcome difficulties.”
In October, 12 Nicaraguan priests were released from prison. Then the Holy See received them, welcomed them to Rome, and guaranteed their residency.
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