“News coming from Nicaragua has saddened me and I cannot help but be concerned about Bishop Rolando Alvarez, Bishop of Matagalpa, whom I love so much.”

With these words, Pope Francis wanted to reach the La Modelo prison in Nicaragua, where Bishop Rolando Álvarez was imprisoned.

Twenty-six years in jail, this was the sentence handed down to the Nicaraguan bishop in February 2023, after refusing to be exiled. Accused of treason and of spreading false news to destabilize the government of Daniel Ortega, Bishop Alvarez is known for his defense of human rights and religious freedom.

The Catholic Church in Nicaragua has been the target of many attacks: from the expulsion of the apostolic nuncio in 2022, the dissolution of the Jesuit order and the seizure of its assets, the confiscation of the Major Seminary of Matagalpa to halt priestly formation, to the most recent one: the confiscation of the Poor Clare Sisters' property.

In January 2024, 19 members of the Catholic Church of Nicaragua were sent to Rome, among them, Monsignor Rolando Álvarez. And now, for the first time since being released, Mons. Álvarez sits down for a one-on-one interview with EWTN News.

Paola Arriaza — EWTN Vatican Correspondent

“Monsignor Rolando Álvarez you arrived in Rome a year ago. What has your life been like here? What tasks has Pope Francis entrusted to you?”

Mons. Rolando Alvarez — Bishop of Matagalpa 

“I am very happy in Rome because when I was detained I always thought that at the time of liberation, after Nicaragua, the best city in which I could live is the eternal one. Precisely because I am close to Peter and that renews my faith in such a way that I have had a year of recovery, certainly of my overall health, but in which I have come and also gained the inner peace that I needed so much. I do not feel exiled, but liberated and in the diaspora faith always grows and hope is strengthened.” 

Paola Arriaza — EWTN Vatican Correspondent 

“On the day you came to Rome, how did you feel? What was that day like for you?” 

Mons. Rolando Alvarez — Bishop of Matagalpa 

“Well, first let me tell you that when I got out of prison and they were taking me to the airport in the steps that the Holy See of the Secretariat of State on behalf of the Holy Father made to the government, of course, I felt a deep joy, but above all it was an experience of faith, because at that moment I recited and professed the Creed which is why I suffered that experience for my faith.” 

Paola Arriaza — EWTN Vatican Correspondent 

“Did you think that this day of liberation would come…” 

Mons. Rolando Alvarez — Bishop of Matagalpa 

“I always thought and believed in my freedom, I always believed in my liberation, when I don't know, I didn't know, I didn't know, I didn't know, but I always hoped to be free. And I insist that what sustained me was prayer, to be able to be giving this interview in this beautiful Pontifical Commission of Latin America can only be explained as a supernatural action of God. There is no human explanation for me to be with you at this moment.”  

Paola Arriaza — EWTN Vatican Correspondent 

“You talked about your state of health on that day you left during that year you were incarcerated. How was your state of health before and how is it now?”  

Mons. Rolando Alvarez — Bishop of Matagalpa 

“I came to say it in a language of quantification, minus zero. Minus zero in all my psychological, psychiatric, emotional, affective, sentimental, moral, spiritual, physical, somatic capacities, minus zero. Now, one year later, I can say that I am 90% recovered.” 

Paola Arriaza — EWTN Vatican Correspondent 

“Well and lastly, Monsignor, is there any message of thanksgiving you would like to share?” 

Mons. Rolando Alvarez — Bishop of Matagalpa 

“To tell them that I love them. I love my people very much, I love my people and tell them that I am a bishop for the universal church and that is, I was ordained bishop for Matagalpa, I am the visible head of Matagalpa and apostolic administrator of Esteli and I will continue to be so until God wills it and I want to send from here my blessing of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit to all the people of Nicaragua and all Latin America.” 

Paola Arriaza — EWTN Vatican Correspondent 

Monsignor Rolando Álvarez thank you very much. 

Mons. Rolando Alvarez — Bishop of Matagalpa 

Thank you. 

Adapted by Jacob Stein 

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