Miami: Four years have passed since Father Edwin Román left his homeland of Nicaragua, yet the pain of separation from his parish and faithful remains vivid. In an interview with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language partner, the priest recounted his life in exile and his enduring hopes for the Catholic Church in a country facing relentless persecution under the dictatorship of President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo.
Father Román, now parochial vicar at St. Agatha Parish in Miami, described the fateful day of August 3, 2019, when he departed Nicaragua. “My plane ticket was for 10 days,” he recalled, “but after direct threats from Rosario Murillo and harassment from a pro-government journalist including traffic stops and attempts to defame me I applied for asylum.”
Since arriving in Miami, the 65-year-old priest has found welcome and support from the pastor, Father Marcos Somarriba, and the local community. He has also assisted neighboring parishes, carrying out pastoral duties and sacramental ministry. “It has been difficult to adapt. The pain remains of not having said goodbye to my parish or the faithful,” he said, highlighting the emotional cost of exile.
Father Román reflected on the ongoing persecution in Nicaragua, noting that despite constant harassment, the faithful continue attending Mass, celebrating patron saint feasts, and praying with steadfast hope. Yet, the regime has increasingly restricted religious life: prohibiting processions, infiltrating parishes, forbidding public prayers, and even requiring priests to submit homilies to police for approval. According to a recent report by researcher Martha Patricia Molina, over 16,500 acts of public devotion have been banned, with 1,010 attacks recorded against the Church.
The priest emphasized that the resilience of Nicaraguan Catholics endures amid these challenges. “People continue to pray and have not lost hope for better times,” he said, underscoring the faith and courage of those who remain under pressure at home.
In recent weeks, the plight of the Nicaraguan Church gained attention at the Vatican. On August 23, Pope Leo XIV received three Nicaraguan bishops in exile including Auxiliary Bishop Silvio Báez and spoke at length about the situation of the Church in Nicaragua. Father Román described the pope’s visit as “very encouraging,” noting that the pontiff’s familiarity with Latin American realities, shaped by years of missionary work in Peru, brought comfort and solidarity to the exiled clergy.
In Miami, Father Román has embraced his pastoral role at St. Agatha Parish, supporting evangelization, celebrating sacraments, and visiting the sick. He expressed gratitude to Archbishop Thomas Wenski, who welcomed him and Auxiliary Bishop Báez, opening his parish doors to exiled clergy.
Looking ahead, Father Román urged Catholics worldwide to support the Nicaraguan Church through prayer and awareness. “Include our pilgrim Church in Nicaragua in your prayers,” he said. “Pray that fair-minded media continue to denounce the injustices suffered by the Nicaraguan people and the persecution of the Church.”
Despite years of exile, threats, and hardship, Father Román remains hopeful. His testimony reflects the resilience of Nicaraguan Catholics a community striving to preserve faith, dignity, and hope amid ongoing persecution.