Pope urges dialogue as more Nicaraguan priests arrested

SAN JOSA: Almost 14 Nicaraguan priests have now been arrested in a crackdown on the Catholic Church in the Central American country, prompting Pope Francis to call for dialogue during his Monday prayer.

According to a list drawn up by Martha Molina, an expert on Nicaraguan church affairs who is exiled in the United States, priest Gustavo Sandino from the northern region of Jinotega was arrested on New Year´s Eve.

His detention was the latest in a wave of arrests under iron-fisted leftist President Daniel Ortega, which began on December 20 with the detention of Bishop Isidoro Mora.

“I am closely following what is happening in Nicaragua, where bishops and priests are deprived of their liberty,” Pope Frances said in Rome on Monday.

“I wish for us to always seek the path of dialogue to overcome difficulties. Let us pray for Nicaragua today.”

The relationship between the Church and Ortega´s government deteriorated during protests against social security reforms in 2018, which the UN estimates left about 300 people dead.

Ortega accused the religious community of backing the opposition during the demonstrations, after the church sheltered protesters.

The protests kicked off what rights activists see as a severe repression of anyone perceived as a critic of the government.