Pablo Villafranca
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Nicaragua
Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic
Date of Detainment: December/26/2023
Date of Release: January/14/2024
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Pablo Villafranca
Extra Bio Info:
Pablo Villafranca was detained for his religious activity and his religious leadership role.
On December 26, 2023, Nicaraguan authorities detained Villafranca, a priest at the Parish of Our Lord of Veracruz, in the morning and released him in the afternoon. However, police re-arrested Villafranca a few hours after his release. Villafranca was known to pray for the wrongfully imprisoned Bishop Rolando Álvarez. His arrest and re-arrest also come amid a crackdown on the Catholic Church in Nicaragua.
On January 14, 2024, Villafranca was released from prison and exiled to the Vatican.