Nicaragua, President Ortega defines the Catholic Church "a dictatorship"

Nicaraguan President

called the Catholic Church "a perfect dictatorship", two weeks after Pope Francis had assured that "there is dialogue" with Managua.

"Who elects the priests? Who elects the cardinals? Who elects the pope? It is a perfect dictatorship, a perfect tyranny", exclaimed Ortega in a speech on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of the founding of the Nicaraguan police. 

On 15 September, Francis insisted on the need to "never interrupt dialogue" with Nicaragua, where tensions between the State and the Catholic Church are growing.

"There is a dialogue. We have spoken with the government. There is a dialogue. It does not mean that we approve of everything the government does. Or that we disapprove of everything," said the Argentine Pope. 

In March Nicaragua had expelled the Vatican ambassador Monsignor

, apostolic nuncio to Managua since 2018. And in August Monsignor

, critic of the regime, was arrested and is "under house arrest", according to the police who cited the "destabilizing and provocative" activities of the bishop.

Ignoring the Pope's outstretched hand, President Ortega violently attacked the Catholic Church.

"I would say to His Holiness the Pope, with great respect, to the Catholic authorities - I am Catholic - as a Christian, I do not feel represented", he said, referring to the "terrible history" of the Church, citing the inquisition and the abuses against indigenous children in Canada.

"We hear them talking about democracy", he ironized, asking that all clerics - from priests to popes - be elected by the faithful.

Ortega also attacked the US Undersecretary of State,

, "who continually comes out with statements, which looks like a bulldog, who barks at Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua".

The president of the Central American country did not mention in his speech

, the European Union ambassador in Managua, who would be expelled, according to the opposition media.

Brussels, like Washington, has imposed numerous sanctions on Managua and on regime figures.

The EU also called for the release of over 200 jailed opponents