US and Cuban Churches praise ‘historic’ breakthrough

Catholic Church leaders in the United States enthusiastically greeted President Barack Obama’s decision to push for a normalisation of diplomatic relations with Cuba, after they were severed exactly 54 years ago, on 3 January 1961.

Reactions of Catholic members of Congress broke along partisan lines and congressional action is needed to end the trade embargo against the island nation. Mr Obama has said he hopes a US embassy will be opened in Havana in the coming months.

“We believe it is long past due that the United States establish full diplomatic relations with Cuba, withdraw all restrictions on travel to Cuba, rescind terrorist designations aimed at Cuba, encourage trade that will benefit both nations, lift restrictions on business and financial transactions, and facilitate cooperation in the areas of environmental protection, drug interdiction, human trafficking and scientific exchanges,” said Bishop Oscar Cantu, chairman of the US bishops’ conference committee on international relations.

Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley commended the intervention of Pope Francis in the effort, saying, “This is going to have profound changes in the lives of millions of people. We are very pleased that our Holy Father had an important role in these negotiations. It is part of the mission of the Church to promote reconciliation and peace between peoples.”

The Vatican hosted secret talks between Cuban and American officials and the Argentinean Pope personally wrote letters to both Mr Obama and Raúl Castro, the Cuban President, urging them to seek an accord. 

Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski also praised the Pope’s role in the negotiations as he faced the delicate task of reconciling the Cuban exile community, which has fought to maintain the embargo against Cuba.

The Cuban bishops thanked Pope Francis in a letter, speaking of “a new era for the Cuban people”. “We see on the horizon improvements in the living conditions of the Cuban people and we hope that this will serve both the spiritual and material good and contribute to reconciliation and peace between the United States and Cuba,” wrote the president of the Cuban Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Dionisio Garcia Ibanez.