In Nicaragua, and in most of Latin America, religion plays a major part in all aspects of
society. The Catholic Church in Nicaragua had a large influence in politics. Nicaragua is,”
is 80 percent Catholic and deeply religious”(Hopfensperger, 1983). In 1979, revolutionists
in Nicaragua were successful in over throwing the dictatorship of the Somoza dynasty. The
Sandinista Front for National Liberation (FSLN) was the movement that had led the fight
against the previous government structure. The revolution brought a lot of tension to
society. The country was divided. Many in Nicaragua felt that the poor were being
neglected. A lot Catholic priests sided with the Marxists revolutionists. The highest
Catholic officials in Europe did not agree with the priests’ opinions in Nicaragua. With all
of tension and war happening in Central America at the time, Pope John Paul II visited
Latin America hoping to bring some resolution. But what actually happened was the exact
opposite. In 1983 when Pope John visited Nicaragua, his views on the way Catholic
officials were handling things increased tension and violence dramatically. When the
reform-minded Catholics of Nicaragua heard that the pope himself was going to visit, they
were certain that the leader of the Catholic church would bring nothing but support and
hope to all of them. They thought he could possibly even bring a peaceful revolution to the