On January 14, the Nicaraguan Government issued the following press release. The unofficial translation is from Tortilla con Sal.
The Presidency of the Republic, the Government of Reconciliation and National Unity and the People of Nicaragua, express deep thanks to the Holy Father Pope Francis, the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, its Titular Cardinal His Most Reverend Eminence Pietro Parolin and his Work Team for the very respectful and discreet coordination carried out to make possible the journey to the Vatican of two bishops, fifteen priests and two seminarians.
The list of these people is as follows:
1. BISHOP ROLANDO JOSÉ ÁLVAREZ LAGOS
2. BISHOP ISIDORO DEL CARMEN MORA ORTEGA
3. OSCAR JOSÉ ESCOTO SALGADO
4. JADER DANILO GUIDO ACOSTA
5. PABLO ANTONIO VILLAFRANCA MARTÍNEZ
6. CARLOS JOSÉ AVILÉS CANTON
7. HÉCTOR DEL CARMEN TREMINIO VEGA
8. MARCOS FRANCISCO DIAZ PRADO
9. FERNANDO ISAÍAS CALERO RODRÍGUEZ
10. SILVIO JOSÉ FONSECA MARTÍNEZ
11. MIKEL SALVADOR MONTERREY ARIAS
12. RAÚL ANTONIO ZAMORA GUERRA
13. MIGUEL AGUSTÍN MANTICA CUADRA
14. JHADER ANTONIO HERNÁNDEZ URBINA
15. GERARDO JOSÉ RODRÍGUEZ PÉREZ
16. ISMAEL REINEIRO SERRANO GUDIEL
17. JOSÉ GUSTAVO SANDINO OCHOA
18. TONNY DANIEL PALACIO SEQUEIRA
19. ALESTER DE JESÚS SÁENZCENTENO
They have already been received by Vatican authorities, in compliance with Agreements of Good Faith and Goodwill, which seek to promote understanding and improve communication between the Holy See and Nicaragua, for peace and good.
We acknowledge frank, direct, prudent and very serious, responsible and careful dialogue, which has made it possible to arrive at this day of praise to the God of all, who enlightens and guides us to continue cultivating trust and to increase, out of faith, tranquility of spirit and the right to justice and the life of Nicaragua's families.
Managua, January 14, 2024
Government of Reconciliation
and National Unity, Republic of Nicaragua
Background from NicaNotes: Bishop Rolando Alvarez was tried and sentenced in February 2023 for money laundering, conspiracy and treason for undermining national integrity, and propagation of false news through information and communication technologies to the detriment of the State and Nicaraguan society. Radio stations and TV channels in Matagalpa run by Álvarez since 2016 received US funding that was channeled for the undermining of the government. Despite government warnings that these activities were in violation of the law as well as their status as religious media, Alvarez never closed the channels down or ceased his destabilizing efforts. Eventually, seven radio stations and two TV channels were closed for legal violations in 2022 by Telcor, the entity that regulates communications. Alvarez, along with two other bishops were important leaders in directing and encouraging the 2018 US-backed coup attempt. He has been given the opportunity at least two other times to leave the country, but hasn’t gone, until now; directed to leave by the pope.
Many Catholic churches were directly involved in the 2018 coup attempt. Priests openly supported the violence and even in some cases were present at torture sessions. Catholic church leaders, especially members of the hierarchy like Bishop Alvarez, were part of the coup leadership. Even before the coup, sermons were used to give anti-government messages to encourage people to act against the government. Many priests allowed the opposition to use their churches as headquarters as well as to store weapons, food, cash and stolen items such as medicines. This has badly affected the church's standing in Nicaragua amongst ordinary people, naturally. And the numbers of people who declare themselves Catholic has been reduced.
A sector of Catholic churches including clergy and Catholic agencies in Nicaragua, as well as the Vatican, also actively supported the US backed contra war. The Reagan administration was determined to destroy liberation theology since it provided support for the revolution. Reagan’s propagandists lied repeatedly about “persecution” of religion in Nicaragua. Anyone who was in Nicaragua at the time knows this. Those same lies have been revived today: "They persecute religion" is just one of Washington’s inventions to try to destroy the revolution.
During the revolution there was a struggle within the Catholic Church between proponents of liberation theology with a special option for the poor, on one hand, and the conservatives with a special option for the rich and powerful. The church was and still is politicized. The Sandinista government is continuing to resist and defend itself from imperialism including defending itself from a weaponized church.
