The pontiff echoed Cuban bishops\u2019 call for \u201csincere and effective\u201d talks after Washington announced new measures tightening economic pressure on the island.<\/p>\n
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday voiced “great concern\u201d over news of rising tensions between Cuba and the United States of America, urging leaders to pursue \u201csincere and effective\u201d dialogue to avoid violence and further suffering for the Cuban people.<\/p>\n
His appeal, delivered after he recited the Angelus from the Apostolic Palace, came after Donald Trump\u2019s administration issued an executive order late Thursday intensifying economic pressure on the island, including the possibility of imposing tariffs on countries that supply crude oil to Cuba. The order describes Cuba\u2019s posture toward the U.S. as hostile and calls it a \u201cnational threat.”<\/p>\n
The pope explicitly aligned himself with an appeal from Cuba\u2019s bishops and called on those responsible to choose dialogue over escalation: \u201cI join the message of the Cuban bishops, inviting all those responsible to promote a sincere and effective dialogue, to avoid violence and any action that could increase the sufferings of the dear Cuban people.\u201d<\/p>\n
He then entrusted the Cuban people to the patroness of the island: \u201cMay the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre assist and protect all the children of that beloved land!\u201d<\/p>\n
Beatitudes as God\u2019s lights \u201cin the half-light of history\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier in his Angelus reflection, the pope focused on the Gospel Beatitudes, calling them \u201clights that the Lord kindles in the half-light of history,\u201d revealing God\u2019s saving plan carried out through Christ \u201cby the power of the Holy Spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said Christ gives the disciples a \u201cnew law\u201d written in hearts rather than on stone\u2014one that \u201crenews our life and makes it good, even when to the world it seems failed and wretched.\u201d Only God, he said, can truly call the poor and afflicted blessed, satisfy those who seek peace and justice, and give joy to the meek, merciful, and pure of heart.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn persecution, God is the source of redemption; in falsehood, he is the anchor of truth,\u201d the pope said, adding that Jesus therefore proclaims: \u201cRejoice and be glad!\u201d<\/p>\n
Prayers for disaster victims, peace appeal ahead of Olympics<\/p>\n
After the Angelus, the pope said he was praying for victims of a landslide at a mine in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He asked prayers as well for the dead and those suffering due to storms that recently struck Portugal and southern Italy, and he noted the severe flooding affecting Mozambique.<\/p>\n
Marking Italy\u2019s National Day of Civilian Victims of Wars and Conflicts in the World, the pope lamented the ongoing toll of armed actions that violate morality and law, and said victims will be truly honored when this \u201cintolerable injustice\u201d ends.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead to the 2026 Winter Olympics, Leo offered good wishes to organizers and athletes and expressed hope that the ancient Olympic truce tradition might prompt \u201cconcrete gestures of d\u00e9tente and dialogue\u201d by those in authority.<\/p>\n
This story was first published in two parts by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.<\/p>\n