"Nicaraguan Catholic Bishop Alvarez Released Amid Ongoing Negotiations - Insider"
Nicaraguan Catholic Bishop Rolando Alvarez has been released from prison, potentially signaling a turning point in the government's crackdown on the Catholic Church. Negotiations are underway between the government and the country's Catholic bishops regarding Alvarez's future, including the possibility of expulsion or exile. If the bishop refuses to leave the country, he may be returned to prison. The release comes after formal ties between Nicaragua's government and the Vatican were severed this year, following Pope Francis' criticism of President Daniel Ortega's government as a dictatorship. The conflict between the government and the Catholic Church dates back to anti-government protests that turned violent five years ago.