Politics
Pope Francis regrets the conviction of Bishop Rolando Álvarez and the exile of Nicaraguan political prisoners
The regime sentenced Catholic Bishop Rolando Álvarez, one day after the cleric refused to be deported to the United States in captivity
February 12, 2023 2:01pm
Updated: February 13, 2023 8:25am
Pope Francis condemned the Nicaraguan regime's 26-year prison sentence of Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, and expressed concern for the 222 political prisoners exiled by the Ortega regime.
“The news coming from Nicaragua make me very sad," Francis said after praying Sunday Angelus of the political prisoners. "I pray for all of them (the exiles) and for those who suffer in that beloved nation," he added, asking the community to pray for Nicaragua.
Papa Francisco @pontifex expresa dolor por Monseñor Rolando Álvarez y 222 desterrados por dictadura de Daniel Ortega #Nicaragua pic.twitter.com/kIcznUL0sg
— Arturo McFields Yescas (@ArturoMcfields) February 12, 2023
The regime sentenced Catholic Bishop Rolando Álvarez on Friday, a day after the cleric refused to be deported to the United States after he was jailed.
The Sandinista court also stripped him of his Nicaraguan nationality, the same measure to which the 222 political prisoners released in Managua and sent to Washington D.C. were subjected.
After the announcement, the United States demanded this Saturday that the regime release the monsignor. "Bishop Rolando Álvarez is unjustly imprisoned and we will continue to press for his release," a State Department spokesman told EFE.
Thursday, Ortega's regime released and expelled 222 political prisoners from the country.
Two prisoners refused to leave the country. One was the bishop and the other was Fanor Alejandro Ramos, a former police officer who participated in protests against the regime and has been charged and convicted of drug trafficking.
