“That Cuba is a church that has always struck me about the appearance of the great brotherhood.” Word of the cardinal Beniamino Stella, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, who paid a visit to the Church in Cuba 22 to 28 April. In an interview with Vatican Radio, Cardinal focused on the faith of the Cuban people, the meeting with Castro, the next trip of the Pope and the thaw in relations between Washington and Havana.
Just the conversation with President Raul Castro, Stella said: “It ‘s been a long conversation; the memory of past events is very strong, as is easy to understand; But it also has the distinct feeling that you have to look forward to update their difficult situations to give exit to the problems that today are imposed, especially in economic matters. The president said they are studying reforms especially economic aspects, but also in relation to the presence and activity of the Church. There are so many things that are certainly attention: I myself have mentioned to the president some important issues, for which the bishops are waiting – in the context of the visit of the Pope, but also in the near future – answers. There is the whole issue of the repair and construction of churches, too, of new churches; is the theme of discomfort, difficulties in moving so many priests in the country. I was impressed by a priest, he was in Camagüey, which at the end of a meeting has taken his bicycle and said: “It ‘a bike still distant era, when there was a strong Russian presence”. I said to myself: “It ‘a bicycle museum, this …”. But, in fact, it is a way in which priests are moved and the distances are not small: a priest, sometimes, is to many communities; the climate is tropical and humid, and then the Church needs to be able to move with their pastoral workers, especially the priests, with the means to enable a bit ‘less effort and a lower consumption of energy. ”
“Another very topical issue – continued the cardinal – is the issue of greater access to the media of the Church: already there has been progress, and I would say that is one of the signs of a move in spaces of freedom that correspond to the Church. However, I think the Pope’s visit will also bring in the media of positive news, much desired. The bishops want to work in this field and can communicate with their faithful. There is, then, the theme of the Internet which is a very topical issue. Today, it is not just television, not radio, but that’s the Internet, is digital communication on which the Cuban Church earnestly desires something new. They said – they said – you’re studying, you need a little ‘strengthening the technological support of these innovations for the Church as part of the Internet. I hope it will come soon. ”
As for the expectations of the country for the Pope’s visit, the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops had no doubts: “I think the Pope’s visit will be a really big window, a large area to grow with the dimension of evangelization and mission. There is a great expectation! There is a little ‘curiosity to know the details where the Pope will go, where to enter, where to start, a bit’ the obvious curiosity that belongs to many faithful Cubans who have known Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict now Papa Francesco: There is a very vivid memory, even recently, these two earlier visits; then the visit of Pope Francesco next September is highly desirable, because it is a land Latin American Pope, a Pope who speaks Spanish with … So I think there is a natural chemistry between this world Latin American, Cuban and in our case, and Papa Francesco: I think it will be a moment of intense ecclesial, great communication and great hope for all Cubans, but especially for those who work and are active with their faith and their church life as part of Catholic life.
The Cardinal Stella, as nuncio in Havana, in the nineties, he organized the historic visit of John Paul II to Cuba. Pope Wojtyla on that occasion, among the high things, said this memorable phrase: “Cuba open to the world, the world open to Cuba”; and in some way it is a dream that is coming true … “I would say – said Stella – unlike this journey, that of John Paul II has had a long preparation: I think at least one year; so even from a logistical point of view it was a very thought, very structured, planned in many details. So that instead it comes with a preparation time a bit ‘smaller; However, there is the experience of two beautiful front travel, and so there are still existing structures of these trips front: I think that in the four months remain until the visit of Pope Francis will give you to do. It is already working because even aspects “logistics” can be solved. Participation is important, important is the awareness of Cuban Catholics; and in fact, then, it is important that they can go, they can move, they can then travel to the points of convergence where the Pope will stop for this visit, which is a truly pastoral visit, desired by the Pope with the times quite large, in so the Pope is present, famous, visit and communicate with this extraordinary Cuban Church, strongly growing and many Christian and human values, which are perceived in sight and with the heart being in those regions.
And finally, answering the question of the journalist who asked if the Church will contribute in the future to strengthen the dialogue between Cubans and Americans, the cardinal said: “Papa Francesco was really the one who gave first his prayer, his faith and also his charisma. The Cuban issue, I have no doubt that he felt deeply, who feel deeply and so has put in place initiatives “diplomatic” – is the word that is used: l ‘ has served as pastor, as is natural … I think that we really have much, to him personally, to his heart, to his creativity. And the Cuban Church certainly tunes completely with Pope Francis and will follow up on these initiatives through the Bishops’ Conference. Important is that the Bishops ‘Conference is a bit’ the ecclesial body that makes this commitment public, formal dialogue with the authorities of the country. And then each bishop, in turn, will face interpreter, he faces operator of these public initiatives, so that this approach can continue, more and more will materialize as soon as possible and we can see; the issues on the agenda, I believe, by the two countries are not simple, they are not few but if the will is there I would say that there are no obstacles and there will be no mountains to climb. We want – I, well, humbly, I wish – you could soon get very interesting results, which will open up a new and very positive step definitely in relations between the two countries. ”
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