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Following the recent release announced by the Cuban regime, The Vatican issued a statement on Wednesday describing the measure as a reflection of the spirit of reconciliation and hope promoted by Pope Francis on the eve of the Holy Year.
According to Vatican News, this decision was previously communicated to Pope Francis through a letter sent by President Miguel Díaz-Canel at the beginning of January, in which the review and release processes were detailed.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba announced the release of 553 individuals sentenced for various offenses, as part of an ongoing mediation with the Catholic Church that has lasted for years.
Although the regime did not specify whether those released include political prisoners, such as those incarcerated following the anti-government protests of July 2021, the announcement coincides with a decision by the Joe Biden administration to remove Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism.
However, Cuban diplomacy did not establish an explicit link between the two decisions.
The Cuban government also specified that more than ten thousand prisoners have been released between 2023 and 2024 under various types of legal benefits.
The statement published by Vatican News also echoes the call of Pope Francis in his announcement of the Jubilee, under the theme "Pilgrims of Hope," in which he urged the promotion of amnesty and forgiveness as acts of reconciliation.
This message, highlighted in the Declaration of Havana, reinforces the Vatican's role as a mediator in humanitarian issues in Cuba.
The Catholic Church has played a key role in the releases of prisoners in Cuba during significant historical moments. In 1998, during the visit of Saint John Paul II, Fidel Castro released about 200 people.
In 2012, before the arrival of Benedict XVI, thousands of prisoners were released, and in 2015, three thousand five hundred regained their freedom on the eve of Pope Francis's visit.
The latter also played a crucial role in the reestablishment 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, declared this Tuesday that he was unaware of the secret negotiations carried out by the Vatican for the release of political prisoners on the island.
"I just found out now," asserted Cardinal García when asked by journalist Mario J Pentón from Martí Noticias.
Throughout Wednesday morning, the release of the first political prisoners from the 11J has begun, resulting from negotiations with the U.S. and mediation by the Vatican.
The authorities of the Guamajal prison in the Villa Clara province announced that the sisters Lisdani and Lisdiani Rodríguez Isaac, political prisoners from the municipality of Placetas, would be released, as reported to CubaNet by their mother, Bárbara Isaac Rojas.
Another of those released is Rowland Castillo, one of the minors imprisoned in the Toyo neighborhood of the Diez de Octubre municipality.
Reyna Yacnara Barreto Batista, a young political prisoner from the 11J protests in Camagüey, was released this Wednesday as well, according to her mother, Reyna Luiza Batista Silva, who reported it on social media.
"It was the first trial held in all of Cuba for the participants of 11J, and now she is the first woman to benefit from the new changes that are coming," Batista Silva wrote on Facebook alongside a photo with her daughter.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Release of Prisoners in Cuba and the Vatican's Mediation
What motivated the release of 553 prisoners in Cuba?
The release of 553 prisoners in Cuba was announced as part of an agreement reached following negotiations with the United States and mediation by the Vatican. This decision coincides with the 2025 Ordinary Jubilee, promoted by Pope Francis, and aims to reflect a "humane and just" character of the Cuban judicial system. Furthermore, it occurs in a diplomatic context where Cuba was removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism by the Joe Biden administration.
Does it include the release of political prisoners?
Although the Cuban regime has not specified whether political prisoners are among those released, the Joe Biden administration announced that the agreement includes the release of a "significant number of political prisoners." Human rights organizations and relatives of political prisoners have expressed skepticism and are calling for transparency regarding the criteria for selecting those who are released.
What role has the Vatican played in the release of prisoners in Cuba?
The Vatican has acted as a mediator in negotiations for the release of prisoners in Cuba. This intervention aligns with the spirit of reconciliation promoted by Pope Francis. Throughout history, the Catholic Church has facilitated significant releases in Cuba, such as in 1998, 2012, and 2015, coinciding with papal visits and important religious events.
How has the international community reacted to the release of prisoners in Cuba?
The international reaction has been mixed. Amnesty International has demanded the release of all political prisoners in Cuba and has emphasized that any amnesty that does not include activists and protesters will be seen as insufficient. Meanwhile, some U.S. congress members have criticized Biden's decision to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, arguing that it strengthens the Cuban regime.
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