Cardinal Juan de la Caridad García Rodríguez, the highest authority of the Catholic Church in Cuba, admitted on Tuesday that he was unaware of the Vatican's secret efforts to secure the release of political prisoners on the island. "I just found out now," Cardinal García told journalist Mario J Pentón from Martí Noticias. "I don't know if there will be a release of political prisoners, as these efforts have been ongoing for many years, sometimes successful and sometimes not. But I can't tell you anything more because this is the first I've heard about Cuba being removed from the list of terrorist countries and the release of prisoners," he added, clearly surprised.
Nevertheless, he emphasized that he had personally requested Pope Francis on several occasions to advocate for the release of political prisoners. The news about the release of Cuban political detainees was announced by the White House, which revealed that the negotiations were made possible through the Vatican's mediation. However, the Cardinal of Havana stressed he was not informed of these clandestine talks. "I hope it is true," he expressed, hopeful that the release of prisoners would be realized.
Meanwhile, the Cuban government has not officially acknowledged the political nature of the detainees and issued a statement claiming that 553 of the more than 1,000 prisoners currently held in Cuban jails would be "gradually" released. Cuban authorities only mentioned that the Vatican's mediation made this possible. However, the White House stated that, following the Pope's mediation, it removed Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and suspended Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, in an agreement that includes the release of a "significant number of political prisoners" on the island.
According to Martí Noticias, a senior U.S. official described the move as a unilateral decision involving a promise from the Havana regime to the Catholic Church to release political detainees. Regarding the Church's efforts, it is known that Pope Francis maintains a "human" relationship with Raúl Castro, facilitating certain diplomatic contacts. Despite this, Cuban ecclesiastical authorities, led by Cardinal García, seem to have been unaware of the specifics of this agreement.
Key Questions About the Vatican's Role in Cuban Prisoner Release
What role did the Vatican play in the release of Cuban prisoners?
The Vatican acted as a mediator in secret negotiations that led to the planned release of a significant number of political prisoners in Cuba.
How did Cardinal García respond to the news of the Vatican's involvement?
Cardinal García expressed surprise as he was unaware of the Vatican's secret mediation efforts and only learned of them through media inquiries.
What was the response of the Cuban government to the political prisoner release?
The Cuban government has not officially recognized the political status of the detainees but stated that a gradual release of over 500 prisoners would occur.