Latin-American Studies

In March 1983, Pope John Paul II made a papal visit in Nicaragua, then a country torn by civil war and political discontent (Mulligan, 199147). This was a time of intense conflict between Nicaraguan Catholic hierarchy and the Sandinista-controlled State. The papal visit only intensified the tension between the two hostile groups.

The Nicaraguan Catholic Church and Sandinista Government have different expectations from the Pope. The reform-minded Catholics expect that the Pope will give moral legitimacy to their political platform (fight against Godless Communism of the government). Conversely, the Sandinistas hope that the Pope would respond as an arbitrator for the peace process and express his disagreement to continuing American aid to the contras (opposing side of the government) (Mulligan, 1991).

Despite the magnanimous effort of the Sandinistas to encourage the public to attend the papal mass, and their tremendous effort to provide assistance (free transportation to the mass) to the people, the Sandinistas did not receive the expected response from the Pope. The Pope asserts the importance of religious education and church unification in order to prevent the Nicaraguans from being tainted by godless communism. He also addresses his strong opposition to the rising dissent within the church between the institutional hierarchical church and popular church (Mulligan, 1991). The Pope also emphasizes his opposition against the Nicaraguan priest who held office at the government. Because of these actions, some Catholic Nicaraguans were disappointed.

Rather than improving the situation of the Nicaraguans with their religious dilemma, the papal visit only heightened the dispute between the Sandinistas and Nicaraguan Catholic hierarchy. The Nicaraguans feared that the papal visit will only give the Contras moral legitimacy that may lead to suffering and pointless deaths. The Popes visit was a significant event that made a huge impact in the revolutionary struggle of the Nicaraguan nation.