Nicaraguan exiles and critics of the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship have welcomed Pope Leo XIV with hope, believing he will be a defender of the faith and a champion for the Nicaraguan people. Arturo McFields Yescas, former Nicaraguan ambassador to the OAS, described Pope Leo XIV as “a true lion, a defender and champion of the faith of the Nicaraguan people, with the strength of a lion and the humility of a lamb.”
The Catholic Church in Nicaragua has faced intense persecution since 2018, with the Ortega-Murillo regime banning processions, expelling priests, revoking the legal status of Catholic institutions, and closing Jesuit study centers. Despite this, the faith remains strong, and many Nicaraguans are looking to Pope Leo XIV for support.
Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes of Nicaragua has asked people to pray for Pope Leo XIV, describing him as “a humble man, a simple man, above all a man of listening.” The Cardinal encouraged people to look to the Pope for guidance and to pray for his docility to the Spirit.
Martha Patricia Molina, a Nicaraguan lawyer and researcher in exile, hopes that Pope Leo XIV will continue to be close to the people of Nicaragua and speak out against human rights violations. Félix Maradiaga, president of the Foundation for the Freedom of Nicaragua, believes that Pope Leo XIV’s experience and commitment to Latin America are encouraging signs for those fighting for freedom and social transformation in Nicaragua.
Despite the challenges and persecution faced by the Catholic Church in Nicaragua, many are holding onto hope. Pope Leo XIV’s appointment has brought a sense of optimism, and his commitment to the faith and the people of Latin America is seen as a positive sign for the future. As one Nicaraguan exile said, “We are here as the united Catholic people of Nicaragua. We look forward to His Holiness’s entire pastoral agenda, we are praying for him as a Church, and we are very happy that he is a man close to the Latin American people, speaks Spanish, and knows firsthand what Nicaragua has suffered.”