In Nicaragua, the police have arrested three more Catholic priests, bringing the total to at least nine detained this week. Two of the priests were reportedly arrested for publicly praying for Bishop Rolando Alvarez, a prominent critic of President Daniel Ortega. The government has not provided reasons for the arrests, but Ortega has accused church leaders of attempting to overthrow his government. The crackdown on the Catholic Church has escalated this year, following Pope Francis’s condemnation of the Nicaraguan government as a “gross dictatorship.” Currently, at least 11 priests, bishops, and seminarians are behind bars in the country. The arrests have sparked concerns about religious freedom and human rights in Nicaragua.