European Parliament Condemns Repression of Church in Nicaragua, Urges Release of Bishop

Pope Francis on Thursday called for dialogue, saying: “There have been talks with the government; there is dialogue. That doesn’t mean you approve of everything the government does or you disapprove of everything. It does not. There is dialogue and there is a need to solve problems.”

Speaking to journalists on the flight from Kazakhstan to Italy, the pontiff said: “Right now there are problems. I at least expect the sisters of Mother Teresa to be able to return. These women are good revolutionaries, but of the Gospel! They do not make war on anyone.”

Pope Francis speaking to journalists on the flight back to Rome from Kazakhstan on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022. Vatican Media

Pope Francis also said the apostolic nuncio to Nicaragua was “a good person who has now been appointed somewhere else. These things are hard to understand and also hard to swallow. But in Latin America, there are situations like that in various places.”

Archbishop Waldemar Stanislaw Sommertag was assigned as apostolic nuncio in Senegal, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and Mauritania in Africa on Sept. 6, 2022. Photo credit: César Pérez / Archdiocese of Managua

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In the European Parliament’s resolution, the regime of Daniel Ortega is called upon to immediately allow international organizations such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and United Nations representatives into the country to monitor the human-rights situation and to begin a national dialogue to resolve the crisis in the country. 

The European Members of Parliament urged Nicaragua’s regime to repeal legislation that “unduly restricts the country’s civic and democratic space.” They ask the EU to continue supporting civil-society organizations there. 

The resolution was adopted by 538 votes in favor, 16 against, with 28 abstentions. 

The Parliament stated it wanted the EU and the U.N. Security Council to open a formal investigation into Nicaragua and its president, Daniel Ortega, for crimes against humanity.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. Taiwan Presidential Office (CC BY 2.0)

The resolution further notes “a framework of state repression has been installed in Nicaragua, characterized by systemic impunity for human rights violations, a deterioration of the institutions and the rule of law, and connivance between the powers of the executive and the judiciary.” 

The resolution was forwarded to the European Council, the commission, the governments and parliaments of the member states, the secretary-general of the Organization of American States, the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly, the Central American Parliament, the Lima Group, the Vatican — and the government and Parliament of the Republic of Nicaragua.