Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Havana (Agenzia Fides) - In their Ordinary Assembly, “at the close of which we received Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone SDB, Secretary of State of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, sent to our country by the Holy Father to preside the commemorative celebrations in honor of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Cuba ten years ago,” the Bishops of Cuba have issued a statement on the occasion of the handing-on of power from Fidel Castro to his brother, through the new National Assembly of the Popular Power.
During the Bishop’s meeting, the message of President Fidel Castro Ruz, renouncing his position as President of the State Counsel, was made public. A few days later, the new National Assembly of the Popular Power was installed, as a result of the elections of January 20. “Both events have a unique character, as they both coincide with the formation of a new State Counsel, with a new President,” the Bishops said.
Immediately following Fidel Castro’s temporal ceding of presidential powers, on July 31, 2006, and his nomination of a group of leaders to maintain the country during his illness, the Bishops of Cuba asked the Catholic faithful for “their prayers during this difficult time for our country. In our prayer, we include a petition to the Lord our God, that nothing disturb the highest good of peace in our nation.”
“Today we want to give thanks to God, because that peace was made possible, in its moment, when the highest-ranking authorities of the country invited workers, students, and people in general to discuss the most urgent problems, in all the areas, that effect our people. It was asked that this be carried out with clarity and courage,” the Bishops’ Message continues. As well, in their Message for Christmas, the Bishops affirmed that “this hopeful discussion had created many high expectations among the people, for an improvement of living conditions” (see Fides 13/12/2007).
During this time, the Bishops once again lift their prayer to the Lord and to the Virgin of Charity, Patroness of Cuba, asking “that this new Assembly that has begun, the State Counsel, and the new President, may have the light from on High to carry out decisively these transcendental means that should be carried out progressively, however that can begin from now on to meet the longings and desires expressed by the Cubans.”
The Bishops conclude their Message with a renewed “vote of confidence, and with Christian hope, [they] express these desires to the new President Raul Castro Ruz, to the State Counsel, and to the Assembly of the Popular Power, keeping always in mind the common good of the Cuban people that we serve, and asking that the Lord bestow the gift of peace to our nation.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 26/2/2008 righe 34, parole 455)
