The leader of the Cuban Revolution, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, and the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel, sent congratulatory messages this Thursday to His Holiness Leo XIV, Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church.
The Pope was elected on Thursday in the fourth ballot of the Conclave, a process that began the day before in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican.
“I trust that your Pontificate will make an essential contribution to peace and dialogue,” Raúl stated, adding that “Cuba will continue to strengthen its positive relations with the Holy See.”
“Please accept the assurances of my highest consideration and esteem,” Army General Raúl Castro Ruz concluded his message of congratulations to His Holiness Leo XIV.
Meanwhile, Díaz-Canel stated in separate messages on WhatsApp and Telegram: “We share the desire to promote dialogue and peace.” He also declared that the island will continue working to strengthen “relations between Cuba and the Holy See,” which will celebrate their 90th anniversary in 2025.
For his part, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez greeted the first American pope. “We join in congratulating His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his recent election,” the Foreign Minister wrote on social media.
“We reiterate the Cuban government’s willingness to continue strengthening the positive relations between Cuba and the Holy See,” he added.
