For the third consecutive year, Catholics in Nicaragua have been barred from publicly celebrating Holy Week, as the government of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo continues its sweeping restrictions on religious expression.
Holy Week, one of the most sacred periods in Christianity commemorating the Passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, has historically been marked in Nicaragua by large public processions, including the traditional Via Crucis. These events, some dating back centuries, have long been central to the country’s cultural and religious identity.
This year, however, the government once again prohibited all outdoor processions, forcing churches to hold observances indoors or in private spaces under heavy police monitoring. Reports indicate that authorities had already banned at least 406 processions during the early weeks of Lent alone.
According to researcher Martha Patricia Molina, who has extensively documented religious repression in the country, at least 5,726 religious activities were restricted across Nicaragua’s 409 parishes during this year’s Lenten season. Since 2019, the total number of prohibited religious events has reportedly surpassed 27,000.
To enforce the ban, the government deployed an estimated 13,000 to 14,000 police officers nationwide. Clergy were reportedly required to submit detailed information about planned services, including attendance estimates, duration, and content. Footage shared by Molina appeared to show police officers monitoring parishioners and clergy at churches such as San Francisco Parish in the city of Rivas.
International observers and officials have condemned the restrictions. Christopher Landau criticized the Nicaraguan government for denying citizens the ability to publicly express their faith, noting that Holy Week processions are a longstanding tradition across Latin America.
Historically, Nicaragua’s Holy Week celebrations date back more than 500 years, with early observances recorded in the 1520s in cities like León and Granada. These events have endured through generations, becoming a defining feature of the nation’s religious life. Yet since 2023, those traditions have been curtailed under government orders.
Local reports describe a climate of surveillance and pressure surrounding religious observance. Even indoor ceremonies, such as Palm Sunday Masses, have taken place under the watch of authorities, with officials reportedly documenting events. Despite this, many Nicaraguans have continued to attend services, signaling ongoing religious devotion even in the face of restrictions.
Previous attempts to defy the ban have been met with force. In 2023, young Catholics in the town of Nindirí attempted to carry out a traditional procession but were chased by police through the streets, according to international reporting. The incident highlighted the extent to which public expressions of faith have been curtailed.
The broader crackdown on the Catholic Church in Nicaragua has included arrests and expulsions of clergy, the seizure of church properties, and increased scrutiny of religious organizations. Critics argue these measures reflect a wider effort by the Ortega-Murillo government to consolidate control and suppress independent institutions.
As Holy Week 2026 unfolds, many of Nicaragua’s faithful are once again observing one of Christianity’s most important seasons behind closed doors—continuing their traditions, but under restriction, surveillance, and the persistent threat of enforcement.
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This is what happens when socialism counters Christianity.
No matter what these socialist/communists do, Christianity will, eventually, always ‘win’!
God will always win!