Pope Francis Expresses Concern Over Nicaragua After Daniel Ortega Jails More Priests

During his New Year's Day address at the Vatican, Pope Francis expressed concern over what is happening in Nicaragua as dictator Daniel Ortega continues his crackdown against the Roman Catholic Church that has seen priests be arrested, foreign missionaries be expelled, and religious processions be banned.

During his New Year address at St. Peter's Square for the traditional New Year's Angelus prayer and blessing, the first Pope from Latin America admitted he was "following with concern what is happening in Nicaragua, where bishops and priests have been deprived of their freedom."

The pontiff added that he has "closeness in prayer to them, their families, and the entire church in the country," and then called on Catholics to "pray insistently" to find "a path of dialogue to overcome difficulties." He then concluded, "Let's pray for Nicaragua today."

This focus on Nicaragua came after at least 14 priests, two seminarians, and a bishop were arrested in recent days as part of President Daniel Ortega's crackdown on any form of dissent. This includes cracking down on the Roman Catholic Church, which he blames for initiating the 2018 protests that he violently put down.

As Ortega cracked down on all of his political opponents, imprisoning them or forcing them into exile, the Roman Catholic Church has become the leading voice of dissent against the government's corrupt and inhumane practices. However, this resulted in the government cracking down on the Church as well.

The Church initially tried to mediate between the Ortega regime and the political opposition during the early days of the crackdown. Still, it was unsuccessful, with the government only intensifying its arrests and mistreatment of perceived opponents, including the Church itself.

Nicaragua Cardinal Asks Roman Catholic Faithful To Remain United Amid Persecution

The bishop who was arrested by Nicaraguan authorities was Bishop Isidoro del Carmen Mora Ortega of the Diocese of Siuna. He was arrested for praying publicly for exiled Bishop Rolando José álvarez Lagos, the Bishop of Matagalpa.

Shortly after the second bishop was arrested, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church of Nicaragua, Cardinal Leopoldo José Brenes Solórzano, the Archbishop of Managua, expressed in a Mass his closeness "to the families and communities that, at this moment, feel the lack of their priests." He added that the faithful in the country must remain united in prayer.

"Church unity," he told those in attendance, "is our strength... With Mary, our mother, at the foot of the Cross, may the Lord console us and show us His mercy."

Nicaragua's Role in the US Migrant Crisis Revealed After France Captures Airplane Full of Migrants

Meanwhile, as Pope Francis and the Roman Catholic Church are lamenting what is happening in Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega is also helping to make the US migrant crisis even worse.

According to The Guardian, the flight that was bound for Nicaragua contained 303 Indians, all of whom were headed to the US-Mexico border. The country has since become a springboard for migrants from other continents seeking to head to the US.

Nicaragua does not impose strict entry requirements for citizens of other countries. Its close proximity to Mexico also makes it an ideal springboard. With his history of criticizing the US, Ortega has taken this opportunity to profit from these migrants trying to get into the US and fueling the migrant crisis even further.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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