Managua

Tens of thousands rally in support of Nicaragua’s bishops

A huge crowd of Nicaraguans marched in support of their bishops in the capital of Managua on Saturday, waving flags and holding up statues of the Virgin Mary. The gathering, called a “Pilgrimage in solidarity with the bishops and shepherds”, came after Daniel Ortega, the country’s president, accused the bishops of being “part of the coup mongers’ plan”. Bishops have been assaulted and churches desecrated in recent weeks as forces sympathetic to the government have turned against the Church. Hundreds of protesters have been killed since April. Fr Carlos Avilés, an archdiocesan official, told the crowd not to be “led by violence” but to live a “radical pacifism”.