Council of Churches says Cuba opens its doors to peace

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 11 (acn) Cuba is a symbol for the world that today, as the key to the Gulf, opens its doors to peace, said Reverent Joel Ortega Dopico, President of the island's Council of Churches on the occasion of the official visit of Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francisco to Havana.

In exclusive statements to ACN, he added that the future of humanity can only be guaranteed through dialog; and we are fortunate because there are two historic Christian institutions on the island with cultural values that reaches millions of people in the world said Ortega Dopico on the occasion of the encounter of both world religious leaders February 12th in Havana.

We have a solid church with diverse diapason; where the vast majority of the Christian expressions are present in a harmonious way and where all religions are respected; that is why Cuba is proud to be a symbol of peace, said the President of the Caribbean island's Council of Churches during an interview with the Cuban News Agency.

Embrace, greetings and exchanges, constitutes a sign to announce the decision of looking to the future, committed to the poor, Earth and peace, confirmed Ortega Dopico.

He also said that both the Pope and the Patriarch coincide in many sociological and cultural elements and Cuba will witness an encounter of two centennial traditions willing to respectfully dialog in order to advance in favor of humanity.

The Russian Orthodox Church is a member of the World Council of Churches based in Geneva, Switzerland and for many years have sustained talks with the Catholic Church; that is why we see this meeting with joy and hope, he said.

After centuries of not getting together and a long process of dialog, the Patriarch of Moscow and all of Russia and his Holiness Pope Francisco will coincide in Havana before continuing to their respective tours throughout Latin America, declared two years ago "Region of Peace" by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.