Rosario Murillo urges Nicaraguans to live their faith during Holy Week as global criticism mounts over restrictions on religious freedom.
Newsroom (02/04/2026 Gaudium Press ) As Holy Week begins in Nicaragua, Vice President Rosario Murillo has called on the nation to live their faith “with love, brotherhood, and peace,” emphasizing that she will not take a vacation despite the official start of the holiday period in state institutions. In a speech that blended religious devotion with political tone, Murillo described the week as both a moment of deep Christian reflection and continued national labor.
“That doesn’t mean we’re not working,” she said, underscoring her commitment to “better serve our people and address their right to recreation.” Murillo insisted that the season symbolizes renewal through the “passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ,” urging Nicaraguans to reflect on “how to move forward, building a future that belongs to us all.”
Her message of peace, however, contrasts sharply with growing international concern over the regime’s handling of religious practices. In recent years, reports from human rights groups and religious organizations have accused the government of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo of imposing severe restrictions on Catholic worship and public expressions of faith.
Mounting International Criticism
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recently renewed its condemnation of the Nicaraguan government, recommending that the country be redesignated as a “Country of Particular Concern” for systematic violations of religious liberty. The commission accused the regime of enacting policies to “eliminate the Catholic Church,” calling for further sanctions against officials tied to these violations.
The chorus of international voices continues to grow. Archbishop Thomas Gerard Wenski of Miami denounced the government during his Chrism Mass sermon, highlighting the expulsion of more than 300 clergy members and the ban on priestly ordinations in multiple dioceses. Monsignor Silvio Báez, one of the most outspoken exiled Nicaraguan clergy members, amplified Wenski’s remarks on social media, reinforcing accusations of a concerted campaign to silence the Church.
Digital and Political Reactions
Beyond church walls, outrage is reverberating online. News platform UHN Plus, which boasts over 1.2 million followers, reported that Holy Week processions had been completely banned by government order. “No processions of penitents, nor Stations of the Cross in various towns. Priests are under threat, siege, and complete surveillance,” read a post that quickly went viral.
U.S. Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar joined the criticism, writing that Nicaraguans “deserve to live without fear, persecution, or a dictatorship that desecrates even their churches.” Her message warned that those responsible for religious repression “will have no refuge” once the regime falls — a sentiment that captured the growing impatience of the international community.
Faith Under Watch
Within Nicaragua, Holy Week remains marked by both devotion and constraint. Processions have disappeared from public spaces, and priests reportedly celebrate Mass under constant state monitoring. The faithful continue their observances quietly, in a climate of tension that contrasts deeply with the open, processional traditions that once defined the season.
While Murillo’s words evoke brotherhood and love, critics argue that her message rings hollow against the backdrop of censorship, surveillance, and the systematic silencing of religious voices. What was once a week of vibrant public faith expression has, for many Nicaraguans, become a testament to endurance — faith lived under watchful eyes and muted celebration.
The convergence of prayer and pressure has turned Holy Week in Nicaragua into a symbol of the country’s broader struggle for freedom. Whether Murillo’s appeal for unity can resonate amid escalating repression remains uncertain, but one truth endures among the faithful: even in silence, belief persists.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from 100% Noticias
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