{"id":207516,"date":"2019-10-14T20:40:48","date_gmt":"2019-10-15T00:40:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=207516"},"modified":"2019-10-14T20:40:48","modified_gmt":"2019-10-15T00:40:48","slug":"cuba-receives-its-new-cardinal-in-havanas-cathedral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/cuba-receives-its-new-cardinal-in-havanas-cathedral\/","title":{"rendered":"Cuba receives its new cardinal in Havana\u2019s Cathedral"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cuba\u2019s new Cardinal Juan de la Caridad Garc\u00eda Rodr\u00edguez officiated this Saturday a solemn mass in Havana\u2019s Cathedral, the first in that emblematic temple since he was ordained by Pope Francis and which served as an official welcome to the now highest Catholic authority in Cuba.<\/span><\/p>\n

Garc\u00eda Rodr\u00edguez (Camag\u00fcey, 1948), the third to occupy that title of high ecclesiastical rank on the island, replaced in 2016 the recently <\/span>deceased Cardinal Jaime Ortega<\/span><\/a> as archbishop of the archdiocese of the capital, at whose headquarters he thanked the samples of affection and the support of the gathered crowd of faithful.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: Yandry Fern\u00e1ndez Perdomo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In his brief homily, the cardinal spoke of a “Cuban Church that walks with those who suffer and that at whose doors so many people knock,” a “missionary” institution with a strong presence during the 500 years that Havana will celebrate next month.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, he recognized the hundreds of “priests who ride bicycles” and do not abandon their parishes, “the nuns and deacons” and the “catechists of every Saturday.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“This is the Church that I have known, the Church that drives me to imitate it, it is the Church that by being holy will help me be holy and fulfill the mission that Pope Francis has entrusted to me,” he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: Yandry Fern\u00e1ndez Perdomo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Finally, the cardinal requested the Virgin\u2019s intercession so that the Cuban people can “have more facilities and less difficulties” in a clear reference to the long-term crisis that the island is experiencing because of its fragile economy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also present this Saturday at Havana\u2019s Cathedral, together with dozens of faithful, were civil authorities, ruling Communist Party of Cuba officials, diplomats and representatives of various religious denominations.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: Yandry Fern\u00e1ndez Perdomo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The new Cuban cardinal had already officiated a mass last Wednesday night, his first liturgical act hours after returning from Rome, in the sanctuary of Our Lady of Charity located in the capital\u2019s humble district of Centro Habana, where he entrusted his new mission at the foot of Cuba\u2019s patron saint.<\/span><\/p>\n