The bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa and apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Estelí, Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, delegated Father Benito Enrique Martínez Gamboa to receive the “Freedom John S. McCain 2024” award on his behalf. This recognition will be granted by the International Republican Institute (IRI).
The IRI award was granted to the bishop exiled on January 14, 2024 to Rome for his “contributions to religious freedom in Nicaragua.” Father Martínez, also a former political prisoner and exiled, but to the United States, will receive the award from congressmen María Elvira Salazar and Joaquín Castro.
Related news: EXCLUSIVE: Bishop Rolando Álvarez wins the “Libertas Internacional” 2024 award
Since his exile to Rome, Monsignor Álvarez has remained silent. He has not been seen in any photos or officiating at any religious service. To date the Holy Father has not removed him from his position as bishop of Matagalpa.
The awards ceremony will take place next Wednesday, May 15, at 2:00 in the afternoon at the Rayburn House Office Building, in Washington, United States.
The IRI Freedom Prize was established in 1995 to recognize people who have fought to promote freedom and democracy in their countries and around the world.
The exile of the bishop and Father Martínez
Father Enrique Martínez Gamboa, parish priest of the Santa Martha Church, of the Archdiocese of Managua, was kidnapped on the afternoon of Thursday, October 13, 2022. On January 9, 2023, he was exiled to the United States along with 221 other political prisoners.
A video of Father Gamboa went viral on social media when he took the microphone at the end of the 2018 Mother’s Day march, outside the Central American University (UCA). In the midst of the repression carried out by the Police a few meters from the place, the priest gave an encouraging speech that ignited the spirit of the population that was protesting in demand of justice.
«We Nicaraguans are the majority, we have a clean heart, not hands stained with blood like others. Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. Long live Nicaragua! Out with the murderous couple! Out with the miserable murderers! “Out, out, out!” said the priest.
Monsignor Álvarez was banished to the Vatican on January 14, 2024 after more than 500 days in the prisons of the dictatorship. The regime sentenced him to 26 years in prison, took away his nationality and violated all of his civil and political rights.
The bishop twice resisted the exile of the dictatorship, but finally gave in to an order from Pope Francis for him to leave Nicaragua and protect his physical integrity. The prelate was one of the most uncomfortable voices for the regime, which earned him persecution, prison and exile.
