Pope Francis today addressed his thoughts and prayers to the “beloved people of Nicaragua,” asking that the Virgin Mary accompany them and “protect them in moments of trial.”
In his words after praying the Angelus this Sunday, August 25, in front of the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, in the Vatican, the Holy Father encouraged Nicaraguans “to renew your hope in Jesus. Remember that the Holy Spirit always guides history towards higher projects.”
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“May the Immaculate Virgin protect you in moments of trial and make you feel her maternal tenderness. May the Virgin accompany the beloved people of Nicaragua,” said the Pope.
The Nicaraguan dictatorship and its persecution against Christians
Between April 2018 and July 2024, according to the most recent edition of the report Nicaragua: A persecuted Church?870 attacks have been recorded by the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and his wife and vice president, Rosario Murillo, against the Catholic Church in Nicaragua. Among the most public is the kidnapping, unjust conviction and subsequent deportation to the Vatican of the Bishop of Matagalpa, Mons. Rolando Álvarez.
During August, the regime deported nine Catholic priests to the Vatican, after embarking on a wave of unjustified arrests of priests and lay people in the country.
On August 19, the Ortega and Murillo dictatorship canceled the legal personality of 1,500 non-profit organizations (NPOs) in Nicaragua, including many Catholic associations, such as Cáritas Granada, as well as evangelical ones.
The next day, he eliminated income tax exemptions for the Catholic Church and evangelical groups.
David Ramos
Graduated in Communication Sciences from the Universidad Privada del Norte in Trujillo, Peru. With more than 12 years of experience in Catholic journalism working at ACI Prensa, I have been based in Mexico since 2018. I have covered Pope Francis’ trips to Ecuador, Paraguay, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Peru and Panama.