Bishop Rolando Álvarez and the other clergy were placed in prison for over a year before being handed over to Vatican authorities, NPR reports. They were imprisoned as part of a movement of opposition to the Church by the president, according to the outlet.
Ortega has accused the clergy of backing a large set of 2018 civic protests that he says were part of a plan to overthrow him.
Álvarez was put into prison after he was sentenced to 26 years for conspiracy. NPR reports that he is one of Nicaragua's most outspoken clergy members, and would not agree to board the February flight to the U.S. until he could first discuss the move with other bishops.
Pope Francis remarked in early January that the bishops and priests were "deprived of their freedom" in Nicaragua and that he hopes "that the path of dialogue will always be sought to overcome difficulties," reports Fox News. Officials from both the Trump and Biden administrations as well as members of Congress have put forward measures to sanction financial lifelines to the Nicaraguan government.
The Nicaraguan government put out a press statement that explained the releases came after negotiations with the Vatican occurred with the goal of "making possible their trip to the Vatican," per NPR.
Included in those released on Sunday was Bishop Isidoro Mora, according to Ortega's government.
Previously, Ortega shipped 222 prisoners to the United States in February after he cut a deal with the U.S. government. He later took their citizenship away.
Nicaragua also released a dozen Catholic priests in October. They were booked on various charges, and were ultimately allowed to go to Rome after an agreement was reached with the Vatican.
Ortega's government has routinely shut down dissidents and set its horizons on the Church, going as far as to confiscate a well-known Jesuit-run University of Central America in August, according to the outlet. This conduct has gone on ever since the state moved to repress popular protests in 2018 that had urged for Ortega's resignation.
Congress in Nicaragua, predominately controlled by Ortega's Sandinista National Liberation Front, has forced the shutdown of over 3,000 nongovernmental organizations, including Mother Teresa's charity, according to NPR.
