Bishop Báez, 67, was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Managua in 2009. In April 2019, after enduring persecution for his outspoken stance against the regime of Daniel Ortega he was forced to leave Nicaragua.
Newsroom (06/30/2025 10:45, Gaudium Press) – Most Rev. Silvio José Báez Ortega, Auxiliary Bishop of Managua currently in exile, has been awarded the 2025 Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award. The award ceremony will take place on July 9 at 7:00 PM (local time) in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Davenport, Iowa (United States).
This recognition was established in 1964 by the Davenport Catholic Interracial Council, inspired by the encyclical Pacem in Terris of Pope Saint John XXIII. The award honors individuals whose work has significantly contributed to the promotion of peace and justice worldwide. Past recipients include President John F. Kennedy, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and activist Dorothy Day.
The Diocese of Davenport, along with various partner organizations, emphasizes that the award is granted to individuals who have shown outstanding commitment to building a more just world. According to the Libertad Foundation, led by former Nicaraguan political prisoner Félix Maradiaga:
“Monsignor Báez has been a firm and prophetic voice in the face of repression in Nicaragua. His words have brought hope to thousands of Nicaraguans who dream of a free, just, and peaceful homeland. His commitment to truth and to defending the most vulnerable transcends borders.”
Monsignor Báez, 67, was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Managua in 2009. In April 2019, after enduring persecution for his outspoken stance against the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, he was forced to leave Nicaragua. Since then, he has continued his pastoral mission from exile.
In a homily delivered on January 4, 2025, in a parish in Los Angeles, he shared his yearning for his country’s freedom:
“Let us not lose hope, let us not lose confidence, and let us pray much this year so that the Lord may grant us the miracle that all Nicaraguans long for in our hearts: to see our homeland liberated, prosperous, full of justice, full of peace, full of joy and fraternity.”
Source: Aciprensa / InfoCatólica
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
Related Images:
