Bishop Rolando Álvarez, who was exiled to Rome in January, celebrated his first public Mass in Seville, Spain, where he prayed for Nicaragua and offered his pectoral cross to Our Lady of Sorrows. During the Mass, held at the parish of Nuestra Señora de Las Huertas, Bishop Álvarez expressed his joy and gratitude to be celebrating the holy Eucharist among the people of Seville. He also took the opportunity to pray for his beloved Nicaragua, which is currently suffering under the persecution of the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega.
In his homily, Bishop Álvarez recalled passages from Pope Francis’ letter to the Catholic Church in Nicaragua, which emphasized the importance of trusting in God’s providence, even in the most difficult moments. He also read a passage from the letter Patris Corde, which highlighted the example of St. Joseph, who always trusted in Providence and transformed problems into opportunities. Bishop Álvarez concluded his homily by praying that Mary, Our Lady of Hope, would keep the faithful expectant for the imminent coming of her son.
At the conclusion of the Mass, Bishop Álvarez made a symbolic gesture of love by offering his pectoral cross to the image of Our Lady of Sorrows. He explained that he wanted to leave his pectoral cross with the Virgin, as a sign of his love and prayer for his faithful in Matagalpa, Nicaragua. Bishop Álvarez entrusted the Brotherhood of Our Lady with the care of his pectoral cross, asking them to keep it in a place of honor.