The Archbishop of Managua (Nicaragua), Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, met during the morning of August 19 with the Bishop of Matagalpa, Msgr. Rolando Álvarez was kidnapped by the Daniel Ortega dictatorship during the early hours of the morning.
In a statement released this afternoon, the Archdiocese of Managua pointed out that the “physical condition” of Bishop Álvarez “is deteriorated”, but “his spirit and spirit are strong”.
The National Police, at the service of the Ortega dictatorship, kept Mons. Álvarez surrounded by the episcopal house of Matagalpa since August 4, without allowing access to food or medicine.
Along with the Bishop of Matagalpa, a group of priests, seminarians, and lay people were detained.
The Archdiocese of Managua expressed “its solidarity and closeness with the sister diocese of Matagalpa, in the face of the sad event experienced this morning.”
“The Lord Archbishop Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes had the opportunity to visit and talk with Mons. Álvarez in his family residence, showing his fraternal esteem in the name of our Nicaraguan church,” said the Archdiocese.
“Monsignor Álvarez has expressed his trust in everyone’s prayer in the face of this difficult situation that we live in ecclesial communion,” he added.
The Archdiocese of Managua stressed that “prayer is the strength of the Christian,” so “we invite you to continue imploring Christ to intercede and watch over his little flock.”
“We hope that reason, as well as respectful understanding, open the way to the solution of this critical and complex situation for everyone,” he concluded.