Cuban Catholic Church Regrets Passing of Pope Francis

Havana, April 21 (ACN) The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba expressed its deepest condolence and join in prayer the Universal Church for the passing of the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis at 88 on Monday, April 21st.

In an official communique -- https://shorturl.at/9FfQq --the Cuban bishops stressed that Pope Francis was a faithful pastor, a man of deep faith and tireless servant of the Gospel, whose 12-year pontificate (March 13, 2013-April 21, 2025) was marked by his love for Christ, his dedication to the unity of the Church and his commitment to the poorest and the vulnerable.

The communique stressed that the Bishop of Rome’s legacy, characterized by mercy, dialog and hope, will continue to inspire current and future generations.

"In this moment of mourning, we, the bishops, priests, religious, and faithful of Cuba raise our prayers for the eternal repose of his soul (...). We also pray for the comfort and strength of the College of Cardinals, the Roman Curia, and all Catholics around the world who mourn Pope Francis’ passing, without forgetting his family and friends."

Pope Francis visited Cuba in September 2015 and always maintained a special relationship with this island nation; he was a promoter of dialog and reconciliation.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel expressed his sorrow for the passing of the Pope and stressed the shared affection between the Holy Father and the people of Cuba.