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The Catholic community of Guantánamo-Baracoa mourns the passing of the Italian priest Mons. Pierluigi Manenti, known in Cuba as Father Luis, a missionary who dedicated more than forty years of his pastoral life to Latin America and spent his final years serving the faithful in the eastern part of the island.
The news was confirmed to CiberCuba through a message, while the Diocese of Guantánamo-Baracoa published an emotional farewell post on social media. According to reports from close associates, Manenti passed away on the night from Friday to Saturday, after a life marked by simplicity, dedication, and a deep commitment to the most vulnerable.
From Bergamo to Latin America: a life dedicated to service
Born in Oltre il Colle, Italy, in 1950, Pierluigi Manenti entered the seminary at a young age and began his ministry in Grassobbio, where he served until 1981. That year he embarked on a journey that would define his entire life: his departure as a missionary to Bolivia and later to Cuba, countries where he dedicated more than four decades to pastoral work.
Those who shared a mission with him describe him as a priest of limitless generosity, pastoral creativity, and an extraordinary ability to accompany the most vulnerable. A man who—according to colleagues like Don Mario Maffi or Don Massimo Rizzi—accumulated no wealth, and returned to Italy only with "the bare minimum," despite spending years dedicated to service.
His impact in Cuba: steadfastness, dialogue, and closeness to those in need
In Cuba, where he worked for years in a context marked by decades of state atheism and restrictions on religious practice, Manenti became a reference point for the reconstruction of community and spiritual life. His style was characterized by closeness, attentive listening, immediate availability to meet any need, and a practical, straightforward approach to evangelism, which he himself referred to as “pastoral snack.”
The San Antonio María Claret parish, located in the municipality of San Antonio del Sur, in which he is described as a “faithful servant” and a shepherd who never knew rest when it came to consoling, visiting, encouraging, blessing, or accompanying his community.
"He fed the needy, visited the sick, comforted the sorrowful, lifted up the fallen, and prayed incessantly for each one of us," the farewell message shared by the diocese expresses.
Similarly, the San Antonio del Sur Football League paid tribute to the clergyman: "Thanks to his support, tournaments were born that are now tradition, such as the Christmas Cup and the Easter Cup, events that brought together young people, families, and players of all ages," it published on Facebook.
A legacy of faith, service, and humanity
Beyond his religious mission, Manenti —or Father Luis, as the faithful affectionately called him— leaves a profound human legacy. His work strengthened the faith of many families, united communities, and supported entire generations in times of joy and sorrow.
The neighbors remember him as a priest who walked with them, who was there when needed, and who placed his vocation above all else.
Last goodbye
In Italy, his body is being laid in repose at the Casa del Commiato in Grassobbio, and his funeral will be held tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. in his hometown parish.
In Cuba, meanwhile, the community of San Antonio del Sur bids farewell with the certainty of having had a servant who dedicated his life to supporting, listening to, and standing by a people who embraced him as one of their own.
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