Nigerian Archbishop Reminisces about “perfect” Catholic Church – Nicaraguan State Relationship before Persecution

Participants in the palaver explored the theme, “The Role of Papal Representatives in a Missionary and Synodal Church-Family of God in Africa”.

Archbishop Nwachukwu led conversations on whether Apostolic Nuncios with permanent mission in many countries of the world are still relevant to maintaining communion between Rome and the local churches, and in the choice of Catholic Bishops.

In his presentation, the Vatican-based Nigerian Archbishop underscored the importance of the Holy Father’s representatives, especially in countries experiencing political instability.

He said that the work of Apostolic Nuncios in such countries includes fostering peace among warring parties.

“The work of a Nuncio is that of building bridges, and it has to be clear that a bridge has to be built even when one side of the road is good land, and the other side is swampy. That is why the Nuncio is there. He is not just there for his pleasure. He has to sometimes sacrifice his own pleasure in order to be there. That is why Nuncios don’t run away even in situations of war,” Archbishop Nwachukwu said.

He said the work of a Papal representative is “to give a handshake to everybody, and to give the necessary environment for the Church.”

The Nigerian Catholic Archbishop said a good relationship between a country and the Nunciature gives the Church “it’s right and freedom to exist.”

The Catholic Church in Nicaragua has been the victim of persecution by the dictatorial government of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo.

Catholic News Agency (CNA) has reported that from 2018 through August 2023, “there were 193 attacks against bishops, priests, deacons, seminarians, and women religious leaders.”

The attacks, according to CNA, include “constant surveillance, threats, attempted murders, beatings, criminal proceedings, and exile.”

“The Ortega dictatorship has not hesitated to imprison and expel church leaders, expel nuns, shut down Catholic media outlets and charitable organizations, and seize money supporting the works of the church,” CNA reports.

The legal status of 1,500 nonprofit organizations — also known as nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) — including Caritas of Granada and a large number of Catholic and evangelical associations has been canceled, in addition to exiling two more Catholic priests to Rome, ACI Prensa, ACI Africa’s Spanish-language news partner, reported on August 20.

Persecution.org reports that before 2018, when pro-democracy protests erupted in Nicaragua, the government recognized clergy members’ freedom of conscience and role as respected religious authorities for most Nicaraguans.

“In fact, during the protests, President Ortega enlisted the church to mediate between his government and those seeking his ouster. But, as the church became a refuge for those engaging in nonviolent action and some clergy criticized the government’s increasingly dictatorial actions, Ortega came to view the church as an enemy,” says Persecution.org.

In his presentation at the August 16 PACTPAN palaver, Archbishop Nwachukwu described the Apostolic Nuncio as “the arbiter” and “the extended hand of the Pope without which everybody would do as they please.”

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“We have had experiences of places that have no Apostolic Nuncios, and I can tell you how wrong things have gone there,” he said, and added, “I was Apostolic Nuncio in Nicaragua. Look at what has become of the country ever since the Nuncio left.”

Further emphasizing the importance of the Holy Father’s representatives, the Catholic Archbishop said, “Just imagine what the case would be in the local Churches if every Priest and Bishop did as they pleased. The Religious Congregations would then be treated anyhow; associations would be treated anyhow with no one around to defend them.”

“The Apostolic Nuncio is there not as a super Bishop, but only to tell the Pope how things are going, and to give the support from the Pope to the local Churches,” he added.

According to Archbishop Nwachukwu, one of the most delicate responsibilities of an Apostolic Nuncio is helping the Holy Father in the naming of new Bishops. “I can tell you I have been involved in this, and it is one of the most difficult, one of the most delicate functions of an Apostolic Nuncio,” the Vatican-based Catholic Archbishop said.

He added that the selection process involves digging into a candidate’s private life. “There are things that once revealed about the candidate, you cannot go ahead with the selection process,” the Secretary of the Vatican Dicastery for Evangelization, who has also served at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and as the Holy See Representative at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) further said.