<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Esta noche visité la parroquia Santísimo Redentor de Managua para dar una charla sobre la Pascua. Al final un niño de la parroquia me agradeció en nombre de todos por mi ministerio episcopal en Nicaragua. ¡Fue muy emotivo! Gracias. <a href="https://t.co/JtXO4rngWV">pic.twitter.com/JtXO4rngWV</a></p>— Silvio José Báez (@silviojbaez) <a href="https://twitter.com/silviojbaez/status/1116198893430214656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Cardinal Leopoldo José Brenes Solorzano of Managua said the pope's request was made during a private audience with Báez at the Vatican several weeks ago.
Brenes explained that Báez will remain an auxiliary bishop of Managua during the undetermined period he is away from the diocese, and that he will go to Rome during the Easter season, after the busy schedule of Holy Week has concluded.
Báez, who has been the subject of threats because of his outspoken opposition to the Ortega administration during the crisis facing the country, said threats have not "paralyzed my ministry" or stopped him from sharing the Gospel and giving "constructive criticism."
The Managua auxiliary was among a group of bishops who were assaulted by a pro-government group in 2018 when they went to free a group of protesters who had taken refuge in a basilica the previous day.
As they tried to enter San Sebastian basilica in Diriamba, about 25 miles south of Managua, their route was blocked, and the pro-government groups called them murderers and liars. Báez suffered a cut on his arm, and he was hit in the stomach and robbed of his episcopal insignia.