The arrest of a senior bishop and leading opposition voice in Nicaragua brings the situation within the country to crisis point, now demanding a strong reaction from the Papacy. So much have relations between the Church and the regime of Daniel Ortega deteriorated that it may now be time for the excommunication – or the threat of it - of the President and many in his inner circle. While the Pope may fear this could inflame tensions, it seems that ship has already sailed. Yes, the Holy See did recently speak up about the situation in Nicaragua, but it do so in equivocal language, while the Pope’s words on Sunday regarding the arrest did not seem to match the gravity of the situation.