Daniel Ortega

The Latest

The Way of the Cross in a parish of the Archdiocese of Managua, Nicaragua.

Dictatorship in Nicaragua bans Stations of the Cross in the streets

Feb 28, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The Nicaraguan dictatorship has prohibited holding the Stations of the Cross in the streets the same week Ortega accused the... Read more

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega.

Nicaraguan bishop responds to insults by Daniel Ortega, calling him ‘corrupt and criminal’

Feb 24, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Silvio Báez, the exiled auxiliary bishop of Managua living in the United States, responded Tuesday to the most recent insults... Read more

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Cuban bishops ask the faithful to pray for the Church in Nicaragua on Ash Wednesday

Feb 22, 2023

By Eduardo Berdejo

“In fraternal communion with our Nicaraguan brothers and sisters, we invite the Cuban Catholic faithful to pray for that suffering... Read more

Bishop Rolando Álvarez of the Diocese of Matagalpa, Nicaragua.

As Catholics welcome Nicaraguan exiles, leading U.S. bishop calls for restoration of human rights

Feb 21, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

Catholic organizations in the U.S. have quickly mobilized to welcome political exiles from Nicaragua, but more must be done, Archbishop... Read more

Demonstration outside the Nicaraguan embassy in Mexico.

Petition demanding release of Nicaraguan bishop delivered to embassy in Mexico City

Feb 21, 2023

By Ana Paula Morales

The petition with more than 11,000 signatures was delivered to the Nicaraguan embassy in Mexico City and demands the release... Read more

Father Cosimo Damiano Muratori.

Ortega dictatorship in Nicaragua expels Italian priest from the country

Feb 17, 2023

By CNA Staff

Father Cosimo Damiano Muratori was expelled after he called the 26 years and four months prison sentence for Bishop Rolando... Read more

St. Mary’s Cathedral in Miami.

Archdiocese of Miami offers to take in priests exiled from Nicaragua

Feb 15, 2023

By CNA Staff

Archbishop Thomas Wenski announced that his archdiocese will receive with open arms the Nicaraguan priests and seminarians who were deported... Read more

Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa, Nicaragua, is monitored by police in early August 2022.

Imprisoned Nicaraguan bishop deserves US support, religious freedom advocates say

Feb 14, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

“This miscarriage of justice will not be forgotten,” USCIRF Commissioner Frederick A. Davie said Feb. 14. Read more

Pope Francis (left); Bishop Rolando Álvarez (right)

Pope Francis asks Virgin Mary to intercede for Nicaragua after bishop sentenced to 26 years in prison

Feb 12, 2023

By Courtney Mares

“The news from Nicaragua has grieved me a great deal,” the pope said. Read more

Bishop Rolando Álvarez.

Nicaragua’s dictatorship sentences Bishop Rolando Álvarez to 26 years in prison

Feb 10, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The Ortega regime sentenced the bishop on Friday, Feb. 10, to 26 years and four months in prison, accusing him... Read more

Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa, Nicaragua.

Why persecuted Nicaragua bishop turned down the chance to leave the country

Feb 10, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Bishop Rolando Álvarez refused to leave Nicaragua along with the 222 political prisoners who were deported by the Daniel Ortega... Read more

Nicaraguan political prisoner Juan Sebastian Chamorro speaks to the press ouside a hotel in Herndon, Virginia, on Feb. 9, 2023, after he was released by the Nicaraguan government.

UPDATED: Nicaragua deports more than 200 political prisoners to US, including Catholic priests

Feb 9, 2023

By Lauretta Brown

The dictatorship of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega deported 222 political prisoners to Washington, D.C., Thursday.  Read more

Father Oscar Benavidez.

Dictatorship in Nicaragua sentences priest critical of the regime to 10 years in prison

Feb 6, 2023

By CNA Staff

Father Óscar Danilo Benavidez Dávila was found guilty Jan. 16. State prosecution requested a sentence of eight years in prison;... Read more

Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa, Nicaragua.

Exiled priest says bishop on trial in Nicaragua created secret human rights office

Jan 30, 2023

By CNA Staff

Father Uriel Vallejos recounted how the Bishop Rolando Álvarez opened the office to help those persecuted after anti-government protests in... Read more

Bishop Rolando Álvarez.

Prosecution accused of fabricating witnesses for trial of Nicaraguan bishop

Jan 23, 2023

By CNA Staff

An exiled priest and a human rights defender charge that the dictatorship of President Daniel Ortega is manipulating and “fabricating”... Read more

Father Oscar Benavidez was found guilty of two crimes on Jan. 16, 2023.

Meet the priest the Nicaraguan dictatorship wants to put away for eight years

Jan 21, 2023

By CNA Staff

Father Oscar Benavidez was found guilty of two crimes at a Jan. 16 trial riddled with irregularities and consisting of... Read more

Father Oscar Benavidez.

Nicaraguan priest found guilty, sentenced to eight years in prison for ‘conspiracy’

Jan 17, 2023

By CNA Staff

A judge found Father Oscar Benavidez Dávila guilty of the crimes of “conspiracy to undermine national security and sovereignty” and... Read more

Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa, Nicaragua (on the left), during his hearing on Jan. 10, 2023.

Catholic bishop arrested by dictatorship in Nicaragua to be put on trial

Jan 10, 2023

By CNA Staff

Bishop Rolando Álvarez, who has been held under house arrest in Nicaragua since August, will be put on trial, accused... Read more

Bishop José Álvarez Lagos surrounded by police officers on Aug. 4, 2022.

2022 was the worst year for the Catholic Church in Nicaragua

Dec 29, 2022

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Lawyer and researcher Martha Patricia Molina Montenegro reported that “2022 was the most disastrous year for the Nicaraguan Catholic Church.”  Read more

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega

Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega: ‘I never had respect for the bishops’

Dec 21, 2022

By CNA Staff

Daniel Ortega once again attacked the Catholic Church, accusing it of “calling for bloodshed,” and said, “I never had respect... Read more