Cardinal Juan de la Caridad García Rodríguez, the highest authority of the Catholic Church in Cuba, declared this Tuesday that he was not aware of the secret negotiations conducted by the Vatican for the release of political prisoners on the island.
"I just found out now," affirmed Cardinal García when asked by journalist Mario J Pentón from Martí Noticias.
"I don’t know if there will be a release of political prisoners, because those efforts have been made over many years, sometimes successfully and other times not. But I can't tell you anything more, because this is the first news I have that Cuba has been removed from the list of terrorist countries and regarding the release of prisoners," he added, puzzled.
However, he stressed that on several occasions, he himself had asked Pope Francis to intercede for the release of political prisoners.
The news about the release of Cuban political prisoners was disseminated by the White House, which revealed that the negotiations were made possible thanks to the mediation of the Vatican. However, the Cardinal of Havana emphasized that he was not aware of the secret talks.
"I hope it’s true," he expressed, showing his hope for the release of the prisoners.
For its part, the Cuban government has not officially acknowledged the political nature of the detainees and has issued a statement assuring that 553 of the more than 1,000 prisoners currently in the country's jails will be released "gradually."
The Cuban authorities only stated that the event was made possible through the mediation of the Vatican; however, the White House reported that Cuba was removed from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism and that the Title III of the Helms-Burton Act was suspended, following the Pope's mediation, 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 stated that this was a unilateral decision involving a promise from the Havana regime to the Catholic Church to release political prisoners.
Regarding the efforts made by the Church, it is known that Pope Francis maintains a "human" relationship with Raúl Castro, which has facilitated certain diplomatic contacts.
However, the Cuban ecclesiastical authorities, led by Cardinal García, do not seem to have been aware of the details of this agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions about Vatican Mediation and the Release of Political Prisoners in Cuba
Who was the mediator in the negotiations for the release of political prisoners in Cuba?
The Vatican was the key mediator in the negotiations for the release of political prisoners in Cuba, facilitating an agreement between the Cuban regime and the United States.
Why did the Cardinal of Havana ignore the efforts to release prisoners?
The Cardinal Juan de la Caridad García Rodríguez was unaware of the proceedings because the negotiations were conducted secretly, without informing the Cuban ecclesiastical authorities about the details of the agreement.
How many prisoners will be released according to the agreement with the Vatican?
The Cuban regime has announced the release of 553 prisoners, although it is unclear how many of them are considered political prisoners according to official figures and human rights reports.
What actions did the United States take following the Vatican's mediation?
After the mediation of the Vatican, the United States decided to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and suspended Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, in an attempt to ease bilateral tensions.
How has the Cuban regime reacted to the release of political prisoners?
The Cuban regime has announced that the release of 553 prisoners will take place gradually and has framed this action as part of the "close and fluid relations" with the Vatican, without officially acknowledging the political nature of the detainees. The Cuban government has not officially recognized the political nature of the detainees.
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