Leo XIV can help a lot in the relationship with the Ortega regime in Nicaragua, says priest in exile

A Nicaraguan priest who lives in exile agreed to speak with ACI Press under the condition of maintaining his identity in anonymity, seeking to protect himself and his family from possible reprisals of the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo.

In this exclusive interview, he shares his experience of living far from his homeland and details how the Catholic Church survives in the midst of a systematic and growing persecution, while expressing his hope that Pope Leo XIV can “help a lot” to improve the tense relationship between the Church and the State in the Central American country.

His testimony reveals the reality of a people under constant surveillance, where fear and repression are part of day to day, and the courage of those who continue their pastoral work despite adversities.

Since 2018, the persecution against the Church in the country was exacerbated, after the priests supported the people who massively protested in the streets, protests that were strongly repressed by the Nicaraguan police. In these years, the dictatorship has closed universities, the bank accounts of various institutions of the Church, expelled priests and religious, stripped of its legal status to thousands of NGOs, among many other abuses. With this panorama, the priest shares his testimony from exile.

Aci Preasa: How do you see Pope Leo XIV in relation to Nicaragua’s difficult situation?

Priest: With Pope Francis, the Government of Nicaragua broke relations with the Vatican State. In fact Nicaragua currently has no presence of Apostolic Nuncio and, although Rosario Murillo is say Socialist and solidarity Christian, it has nothing of one or the other. Cardinal Prevost was one of those he pointed out in A letter (Nder of the bishops of Peru in 2002 when Robert Prevost was vice president of the Episcopate) the serious situations that were being lived in Nicaragua, and the support he gave at the time Monsignor Rolando Álvarez. I think there is always a possibility for change. The church-state relationship is currently very tense, but I think Pope León can help a lot.

Aci Preasa: How does the Church survive in Nicaragua if the accounts are frozen?

Priest: When they began to freeze the accounts they thought they were going to silence or eliminate the action of the Church. Yes, it is true that it was a great blow, but The Church in Nicaragua is not supported by money, the Church in Nicaragua is supported by the presence and pastoral action of the priests in all communities. They stole the retirement funds from the priests and all kinds of account that had to do with the social action of the Church, and now survive of charity, generosity, and in some cases of the income that exists for the collections in the parishes. I think that The most difficult situation has been lived by religious From the beginning, because its action was limited. When they were canceled their legal status, they took their funds and expelled them. They have seen themselves in a persecution but the same, worse than us.

ACI PRESS: Who suffers persecution in addition to the Catholic Church?

Priest: For about five or six months in Nicaragua, this new paramilitary structure that they call volunteer police and that are hooded has been organized. Then one does not know, as a walking citizen, if the person next to him is someone who directly informs the government. This creates greater stress and fear. AND They can capture you at any time, just have the minimum suspicion and go inside. In Nicaragua, fear smells: talking about the government is like touching a viper. You know it is, but it is best not to mess with them.

ACI PRESS: There are complaints about constant and siege vigilance against priests by the police. Was it? Can you tell what they did?

Priest: Police, under the pretext of protection, began to give direct coverage (adjustment) to the parishes. First attending processions and events, and then they were investigating more about the pastoral, personal and family life of the priests. On one occasion a policeman arrived in my parish and told me that processions could no longer be done, that it was not allowed and that any event that we could do to involve the agglomeration of people, avoid it. Retreats were canceled; and the Ministry of Education prohibited schools from doing school excursions. They have reached our parishes, intelligence people, civil dresses, CPC (Citizen Power Councils) to record our homilies, people of the infiltrated government within the pastoral groups with the purpose of obtaining information about what we do, believing that we seek to do something against its structure. And this can happen at any time of the day.

Aci preasa Is dialogue with the dictatorship of Nicaragua possible?

Priest: The Lord can move hearts And I do not rule out a possibility. However, it is clear that the dictatorial government of Nicaragua headed by Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo It does not have the minimum intention of talking with anyone. Any external organization that indicates incorrect behaviors or reports manipulated by the Government, immediately the government cuts relations with them, to the point that today Nicaragua is practically only in a few international organizations such as the UN, FIFA, and some other. If there were a dialogue in Nicaragua, conditions would have to occur, things that are not there today.

ACI Press: How can Catholics in the world help Nicaragua?

Priest: The first great help that Catholics in the world can offer to Nicaragua is prayer. The Church, over the centuries, has always been persecuted and it is the prayer that helps maintain the faith of the people and hope in the promises of the Lord. I also think that Catholics in the world can contribute by disseminating and transmitting everything that is lived in our country, so that it can reach authorities, organizations that could help generate a positive change. In Nicaragua we do not want to change one dictatorship for another, as we have missed it. In Nicaragua We want authentic peace, authentic development, true freedomthe possibility of growing without a political ideology, imposed or obliged.

ACI PRESS: How is life in exile for a Nicaraguan priest?

Priest: Do not leave for your will, you are forced to do so. It is not the assignment that your bishop gives you, it is not a mandate that you assume from the experience of faith and your priestly conviction. This is something that imposes you and that you must do it, you want it or not. Thank God, the doors of many dioceses of the world are open to Nicaraguan priests who have to leave. That is a great blessing, that despite everything that is lived, we know that God is with us. Being outside is painful, knowing that you cannot return to your country of origin because of the whim of which it governs cause dissatisfaction. I can’t go back to my country. I have not committed a crime. The only thing I have done as a priest is to serve God and the peoplefulfilling my vocation and being faithful to the truth. But I want to clarify that despite being out and missing my country that was forcibly torn, I want to say that you feel peace, you feel freedom: you are not aware of whether someone is watching you, you are not worried if you send a message, you are not thinking that you can come to take your phone away and take it to check how it happened many times. You sleep quiet, you eat in peace.

It is a peace that is lived at a distance. And we hope to live it in our land, with our people, with our families. If the priests do not speak in Nicaragua, many times it is also because of the issue of protecting their family. The government today is confiscating everything, for suspicion, because you are an enemy, or for anything. Any false step is a fatal mistake.