Nicaragua suspends relations with Vatican over Pope comments

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
13 Mar 2023 00:06
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Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega has in recent months took several steps aiming to undermine Western influence in his country.

Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega speaks during the inauguration ceremony of a highway overpass in Managua, Nicaragua, March 21, 2019 (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga, File)

The Ministry of External Affairs of Nicaragua announced on Sunday that it suspended its diplomatic ties with the Vatican.

"In light of the information disclosed by sources apparently linked to the Catholic Church, the Government… states that relations between the Vatican State and Nicaragua have been suspended," the ministry said.

Relations between the Vatican and the government of President Daniel Ortega fell to an all-time low in February after a court in Managua sentenced Nicaragua's Bishop Rolando Alvarez to more than 26 years in jail for attempts to undermine national integrity.

On Friday, Pope Francis described Nicaragua as a "dictatorship" in an interview with Infobae.

Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega has in recent months taken several steps with the aim of undermining Western influence in his country - all of whom the Vatican shares close diplomatic ties.

On September 29, 2022, the Nicaraguan government considered the EU ambassador to Nicaragua, Bettina Muscheidt, persona non grata, and ordered her to leave the country.

This happened days after the EU delegate to the UN Charles Michel condemned the Nicaraguan government and urged its president to "restore democracy."

On October 1rst, 2022, Ortega banned US envoy Hugo Rodrigues from entering Nicaragua on account of his "interfering" behavior.

According to Vice President Rosario Murillo, who is also Ortega's wife, Rodriguez would "will not under any circumstances be admitted into our Nicaragua," adding, "Let that be clear to the imperialists," as she read a statement from the foreign office.

Later that day, Ortega took into consideration severing ties with the Netherlands after accusing them of harboring "interventionist" policies and after finding out from his Foreign Minister Denis Moncada that a long-promised hospital will no longer be funded.