AMERICA/CUBA - "Dignity and freedom are worth our prayers with all our strength": the Archdiocese of Havana in the face of a health emergency

Monday, 18 May 2020 coronavirus   solidarity   evangelization   human rights   democracy  

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Havana (Agenzia Fides) - Cuba is experiencing moments of discouragement in the face of the health emergency. The population, although informed of the need to follow the measures to maintain social distance to avoid the contagions of Covid 19, has not stopped its commercial activity and group meetings in many places.
According to the official publication of the Catholic Church of the island, Pope Francis and the Cuban Bishops have invoked hope amid the pandemic that the world is suffering in these days, and called it "a tough test" in a note published on his Facebook account. "We look through the eyes of Jesus, the author of hope. Dignity and freedom are worth prayers with all our strength" concludes the text.
Two days ago the Archbishop of Havana, Cardinal Juan de la Caridad García Rodríguez, sent a message to young Cubans: "You are our hope, look how many elderly people there are, you are more. Be attentive to this new situation", he reiterated, then urged them to imitate the example of the elderly who remained faithful to the Church during difficult years. "Try not to disappoint Jesus, who is and will always be our point of reference", he concluded in a video message through the archdiocese's Facebook.
In the face of the health emergency, following the decision of the Episcopal Conference to suspend all public religious celebrations, with an unprecedented gesture, the Cuban government authorized the Catholic Church access to official radio and television to broadcast the liturgies, since the population is subject to isolation. In Cuba, about two thousand confirmed cases of Covid 19 have been registered, with 79 deaths. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 18/5/2020)


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