Silvio José Báez Ortega

Silvio José Báez Ortega, OCD (born 28 April 1958) is a Nicaraguan Discalced Carmelite and a prelate of the Catholic Church. He earned a doctorate from the Pontifical Gregorian University, and then served primarily in Guatemala and the Vatican from 1989 to 2009. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Managua. He left Nicaragua and went into exile in April 2019 after receiving threats against his life.

Early life Báez was born on 28 April 1958 in Masaya, Nicaragua. He attended Salesian High School in Masaya, He completed his studies in philosophy and theology at the Theological Institute of Central America in San Jose, Costa Rica. He has served as the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Managua, presiding bishop of the commission on Consecrated life and presiding bishop of the Seminary of the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua.

Báez and other Catholic leaders in Nicaragua have served as intermediaries between protestors and the administration of President Daniel Ortega since a wave of anti-government protests began in April 2018. He along with Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes Solorzano of Managua, Archbishop Waldemar Sommertag, the Apostolic Nuncio, and other clergy, was injured by pro-government paramilitary forces on 9 July 2018 while attempting to protect St. Sebastian Basilica in Diriamba and free anti-government protesters who had taken refuge inside. The clerical delegation had traveled to Diriamba following the killing of 17 people in the area on 7 and 8 July. Government employees reported being forced to sign a letter reiterating the allegations and asking Pope Francis to recall Báez. an investigation by the Spanish newspaper El Español found that the audiotape produced as evidence against Báez had been doctored.

On 4 April 2019, Báez met privately with Pope Francis. On 10 April, Báez announced that Pope Francis had asked him to come to Rome indefinitely. Báez also confirmed that U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua Laura Farnsworth Dogu told him in 2018 that he was the target of an assassination plot. He currently serves as Professor of Scripture on the faculty of St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, Boynton Beach, USA.

In 2023, Báez was stripped of his Nicaraguan citizenship.

In 2025, Báez was the recipient of the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award in recognition of his "commitment as a shepherd of the poor and a courageous defender of human rights and democracy who had endured physical injury and threats to your life while pursuing mediation between government and pro-democracy forces in your beloved Nicaragua..."