Vatican confirms it will receive the 12 priests released from prison by the Nicaraguan government

After «fruitful discussions with the Holy See», an agreement has been reached with the Holy See.

ACN.- The government presided by Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua has released 12 priests from prison on Wednesday and sent them to the Vatican following an agreement with the Holy See. «I can confirm that the Holy See has been asked to take in 12 Nicaraguan priests recently released from prison. The Holy See has accepted,» explained the director of the Vatican Press Office, Matteo Bruni, according to Vatican News.He then underlined that «they will be received by an official of the Secretariat of State in the afternoon and lodged in some quarters of the diocese of Rome».

The Government of Nicaragua explained that «after holding fruitful conversations with the Holy See» an agreement was reached for the displacement to the Vatican of 12 priests «who, for different causes were prosecuted, and who have traveled to Rome, Italy, this afternoon». Through a communiqué, he said that «this agreement reached with the intercession of high authorities of the Catholic Church of Nicaragua and in the Vatican represents the will and the permanent commitment to find solutions, in recognition and encouragement of so much faith and hope that always animates the Nicaraguan believers, who are the majority».

Twelve priests released from prison

Among the priests released and sent to the Vatican is not Bishop Rolando José Álvarez Lagos. Manuel Salvador García Rodríguez, José Leonardo Urbina Rodríguez, Jaime Iván Montesinos Sauceda, Fernando Israel Zamora Silva, Osman José Amador Guillén, and Julio Ricardo Norori Jiménez. Also Cristóbal Reynaldo Gadea Velásquez, Álvaro José Toledo Amador, José Iván Centeno Tercero, Pastor Eugenio Rodríguez Benavidez, Yessner Cipriano Pineda Meneses and Ramón Angulo Reyes.