Following the Cuban regime's recent announcement of prisoner releases, the Vatican issued a statement on Wednesday describing the move as a testament to the spirit of reconciliation and hope championed by Pope Francis ahead of the Holy Year. As reported by Vatican News, this decision had been communicated to Pope Francis through a letter from President Miguel Díaz-Canel earlier in January, outlining the processes of review and release.
In an official statement, Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the release of 553 individuals convicted of various offenses, as part of a longstanding mediation with the Catholic Church. Although the regime did not clarify whether political prisoners, including those jailed following the anti-government protests in July 2021, were among those freed, the announcement coincides with the Biden administration's decision to remove Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism. However, Cuban diplomats did not explicitly link the two decisions.
Moreover, the Cuban government disclosed that over ten thousand incarcerated individuals have been released between 2023 and 2024 under various legal benefits. Vatican News reiterated Pope Francis's call for amnesty and forgiveness as acts of reconciliation, echoing his message in the Jubilee announcement themed "Pilgrims of Hope." This message, highlighted in the Declaration of Havana, underscores the Vatican's role as a humanitarian mediator in Cuba.
Historical Context of Prisoner Releases
The Catholic Church has played a significant role in facilitating prisoner releases in Cuba during key historical moments. In 1998, during Saint John Paul II's visit, Fidel Castro released approximately 200 individuals. In 2012, prior to Pope Benedict XVI's arrival, thousands of prisoners were set free, and in 2015, 3,500 regained their freedom just before Pope Francis's visit. Pope Francis also played a vital role in the restoration of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba in 2014.
Cardinal Juan de la Caridad García Rodríguez, the highest authority of the Catholic Church in Cuba, stated 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 mentioned when asked by journalist Mario J Pentón from Martí Noticias.
Recent Political Prisoner Releases
On Wednesday morning, the release of the first political prisoners from the July 11 protests (11J) began, resulting from negotiations with the U.S. and Vatican mediation. Authorities at the Guamajal prison in Villa Clara province informed that Lisdani and Lisdiani Rodríguez Isaac, political prisoners from Placetas, would be released, as reported by their mother, Bárbara Isaac Rojas, to CubaNet.
Another individual released was Rowland Castillo, a minor incarcerated in Havana's Toyo neighborhood in the Diez de Octubre municipality. Reyna Yacnara Barreto Batista, a young political prisoner from Camagüey, was also freed on Wednesday, as her mother, Reyna Luiza Batista Silva, shared on social media. "It was the first trial held across Cuba for the 11J participants, and now she is the first woman to benefit from these new changes," Batista Silva wrote on Facebook, alongside a photo with her daughter.
Understanding the Impact of Cuban Prisoner Releases
What prompted the Vatican's response to the prisoner releases in Cuba?
The Vatican's response was prompted by the Cuban regime's announcement of prisoner releases, which the Vatican views as a reflection of the reconciliation and hope advocated by Pope Francis.
How many prisoners were released and under what circumstances?
Cuba announced the release of 553 prisoners as part of a long-term mediation with the Catholic Church, although the specifics of who was released remain unclear.
What historical role has the Catholic Church played in Cuban prisoner releases?
The Catholic Church has historically facilitated prisoner releases in Cuba, notably during papal visits and significant diplomatic events, such as the visits of Saint John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, and the reestablishment of U.S.-Cuba relations.