The Cardinal Archbishop of Managua, Leopoldo Brenes, expressed from Rome that the Nicaraguan Church prays in the face of the growing religious persecution that is being experienced by the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo.
“The Gospel tells us that we must always pray for those who criticize us, who say things against us. And generally we seek to have a calm heart in the face of these things and to pray,” Brenes said in a brief interview with Spanish journalist Rodrigo Moreno of the Rome Reports news agency.
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Without mentioning any of the cases of persecution experienced in recent months, the cardinal assured that the Church preaches hope and that they do not look back, but forward.
“In our preaching as pastors in Nicaragua, we want to be the pastors who announce hope. The Holy Father has always told us that we cannot look back in the face of problems, but rather we must always look forward. And that is practically what the bishops of Nicaragua and also of Central America have proposed, “said the Archbishop of Managua.
Leopoldo Brenes left Nicaragua for Rome this weekend, amid growing animosity from the regime against priests, nuns and laity; which has resulted in the closure of Catholic media, the imprisonment of priests, the prohibition of processions and the arrest of the bishop of Matagalpa, Rolando Álvarez.
Asked about a possible dialogue between the Church and the dictatorship to reduce tensions, the Archbishop of Managua indicated that they are always open to dialogue as a way of resolving conflicts.
“Dialogue should never stop. We always have experience in Nicaragua because there have been wars and dialogues have been held. And I remember that, at one time, a part was in a classroom and another part was in another classroom and the bishops ran from one place to another like an angel of the news, “recalled the religious leader.
Regarding the priests who have been forced into exile due to the harassment of the Ortega regime, he indicated that many times, it is necessary to discern whether the Lord is sending them on a new mission.
“We want to see what the Lord is asking of us because every priest will see that he has not been able to return to Nicaragua. But what are they discovering and what did we discover? That perhaps the Lord is sending them another mission,” Brenes concluded.
