Nicaragua's suppression and crackdowns on the Roman Catholic Church continue as the Daniel Ortega government has now banned the Jesuit Order, also known as the Society of Jesus, whose members include Pope Francis himself. The pope is not just the first Latin American pope, but also the first Jesuit pope.

According to the Associated Press, the Nicaraguan government under President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, considered a conjugal dictatorship, has ordered the Jesuit Order considered illegal and that the government must confiscate all of its property.

Previously, Murillo and Ortega confiscated the Jesuit-run University of Central America, saying that the prestigious school was a "center of terrorism." The government also claimed that the Jesuits failed to comply with tax reporting.

The University of Central America was where many of the anti-government protesters hid when the Nicaraguan government started cracking down on all forms of dissent. The administration also targeted journalists and the Catholic Church, the latter getting the ire of the government for hiding several protesters during the violent and bloody suppressions in 2018.

The university itself was used as a hub for the anti-Ortega protests in 2018. After it was confiscated, the Jesuit Order condemned the action.

"This is a government policy that systematically violates human rights and appears to be aimed at consolidating a totalitarian state," their statement read.

So far, the Nicaraguan government has forced out several orders of nuns, including Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity Order. Nicaragua also forced the Red Cross to shut down its operations in the country, as well as forced several media organizations out.

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Nicaragua Changes Name of Confiscated Jesuit University

Shortly after confiscating the Jesuit-run University of Central America, it did not take long for the government of Nicaragua to make some changes, including its name.

According to the Catholic News Agency, the university's new name is now "Casimiro Sotelo Montenegro National University." This is in honor of the Sandinista student leader assassinated in 1967 by the Somoza regime before the Sandinista Revolution that first installed Daniel Ortega in power.

Several men were seen removing the initials of the former name on the university's facade. The CNA noted that before it was taken over by Daniel Ortega, the Central American University used to be considered the most important private university in the country.

Nicaragua Government Expels Jesuits From Their Managua Residence

Aside from banning the Jesuit Order, the Daniel Ortega government also expelled several Jesuits from their homes in Managua.

During the Conference of Jesuit Provincials of Latin America and the Caribbean (CPAL), it was revealed that after the university was confiscated, authorities then went to a private residence near the school to expel the Jesuit priests living there.

Vatican News reported that the priests presented documents that showed that their residence was not part of the confiscated university and was private property belonging to the order. However, they were still kicked out.

The priests are now reported to be safe, however, and are now being hosted at the Centro San Ignacio in Managua.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Jesuits respond to Nicaraguan government seizing university property - ROME REPORTS in English