In a significant development, the government of Nicaragua announced on Sunday that negotiations with Vatican authorities have resulted in the release of two Catholic bishops and 17 other clergy members who were incarcerated last year under the current regime's intensified crackdown on religious leaders.

The imprisoned individuals include Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa, Bishop Isidoro del Carmen Mora Ortega of Siuna, 15 priests, and two seminarians. They were accused by the Nicaraguan court of supporting a plot in 2018 to overthrow President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo's regime.

Bishop Álvarez was handed a severe sentence of more than 26 years in prison, along with being stripped of his citizenship and labeled a traitor. Bishop Mora, on the other hand, was arrested in December. These actions have drawn international condemnation, with the United States accusing the Ortega administration of crimes against humanity for violating religious freedom and civil liberties.

According to a statement released by the Nicaraguan government, the clergy members were received by Vatican Authorities as part of an agreement aimed at improving communication and understanding between the Holy See and Nicaragua for peace and goodwill. Vatican News, the official media operation of the Vatican, confirmed that all the released clergy members, except one who remained in Venezuela, arrived in Rome on Sunday and are currently guests of the Holy See.

Expressing concern for the clergy members, Pope Francis stated earlier this year that they were unjustly deprived of their freedom in Nicaragua. He expressed his hope that dialogue would prevail to overcome the difficulties faced by the Church.

The Biden administration has been vocal in condemning the Nicaraguan government's actions against religious leaders. In a recent statement, the U.S. State Department demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Bishop Álvarez, highlighting concerns about his well-being due to isolation, lack of independent evaluation, and the release of staged videos and photographs.

Representative Chris Smith also played a crucial role in securing the release of the remaining prisoners and called for increased efforts by U.S. and Vatican officials to liberate those arrested in Nicaragua for practicing their faith. He expressed relief that the lives of the clergy members were no longer in immediate danger but emphasized the need to protect the fundamental rights of those facing human rights abuses for their religious beliefs.

This latest development serves as a significant step towards rectifying the Ortega-Murillo regime's efforts to suppress the Catholic Church in Nicaragua. However, there is still work to be done to secure the release of the remaining prisoners of conscience and ensure the basic right of Nicaraguans to live freely in their own country.