Nicaraguan Catholics have gathered for a large-scale mass in the capital, Managua, under heavy police presence after a religious procession was prohibited by the government.
The mass on Saturday followed several moves against the church in recent weeks, including the investigation and confinement of a prominent priest who had been critical of President Daniel Ortega‘s government.
A day before the gathering, the Vatican for the first time expressed concern over the recent actions in the Latin American country.
Church leaders urged followers to attend the mass after they said the National Police had banned a planned procession through the city citing “internal security”.
Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes said the attendees congregated “with a lot of happiness, but also with a lot of sadness” due to “the situation we have lived in our parishes”.
“Forgive them Lord, because they know not what they do,” Brenes said.
In early August, Ortega’s government closed seven radio stations owned by the church and announced an investigation into Bishop Rolando Alvarez, who has been confined to the church’s compound with several other priests for nearly two weeks.
Credit: Aljazeera.com
