Summary
Cuban Bishop Arturo González Amador, head of the Cuban Diocese of Santa Clara and president of the national bishops’ conference, called for dialogue amid widespread desperation in Cuba. Following a social crisis that prompted the island’s bishops to cancel their planned visit to Rome to meet Pope Francis, González Amador emphasized the urgent need for effective solutions through open communication. The bishops had decided to postpone their ad limina visit to Rome due to worsening socio-economic conditions and insecurity in Cuba. This decision came after an appeal by Cuban bishops to Pope Leo XIV for prayers during his February Angelus address following strained relations with the U.S., which maintains a strict embargo on Cuba. González Amador highlighted that Pope Francis had also called for sincere dialogue amid suffering caused by the U.S.’s 60-year-long economic blockade of Cuba. The bishop emphasized that despite recent aid from both the United States and the Archdiocese of Miami, Cuba still faces significant challenges including shortages of food, medicine, and infrastructure. González Amador underscored the importance of addressing these issues through dialogue between the government and the Cuban people to find a solution for alleviating their suffering.
Key Topics
Cuba, Pope Leo XIV, Dialogue
