The head of the U.S. mission in Cuba, Mike Hammer, visited the National Sanctuary of San Lázaro on December 17th in the Havana town of Santiago de Las Vegas, in the Boyeros municipality, on a date of profound religious significance for thousands of Cubans both on and off the Island.
The visit was confirmed by the United States Embassy in Cuba through a message posted on the social media platform X.
"Recognizing the revered status of San Lázaro in Cuba, our Head of Mission and his wife Margret visited the National Sanctuary in El Rincón. They were able to witness the tremendous devotion of everyday Cubans. In these difficult times, San Lázaro offers hope," stated the diplomatic headquarters.
The post was accompanied by a video of the official and his wife during the tour.
In the shared images, Hammer is dressed in purple— a color traditionally associated with the festival— and he explains in the first person the significance of his presence there.
"Today, December 17th, to celebrate Saint Lazarus like many Cubans, I am dressing in purple, which, by the way, is my favorite color," he/she revealed.
The representative described it as a "privilege" to have visited the Sanctuary and to have experienced one of the deepest expressions of faith of the Cuban people up close.
During his stay, Hammer stated that he spoke with several people and emphasized the devotion surrounding the figure of the saint, a faith that, he noted, reflects the spirit of those who visit the place each year to express gratitude for favors received, seek health, or share their most sincere wishes.
In that context, he stated that he did not want to let the date pass without submitting a specific request.
"On this significant day, I wanted to take a moment to ask for freedom and for the respect of the fundamental rights of all Cubans," he emphasized.
The visit takes place during one of the most important religious celebrations in the Cuban calendar.
Since the evening of December 16 and throughout the day on the 17th, thousands of people arrived at the National Sanctuary of San Lázaro to fulfill promises and offer supplications to the saint, regarded as the patron of the sick, the poor, and the homeless.
As every year, numerous devotees arrived dressed in purple, carrying candles, flowers, and religious images, in a pilgrimage that combines silence, prayer, and personal sacrifice.
Hammer's presence in the Sanctuary is part of a line of work that has defined his management since arriving on the Island.
At the beginning of this month, the diplomat publicly invited Cubans to suggest places for him to visit and to welcome him into their homes, as part of his interest in gaining firsthand knowledge of the country's reality.
Throughout its first year of mission, it has traveled across several provinces and has reiterated its intention to listen directly to the citizens, without intermediaries.
On various occasions, he has pointed out that living and moving within Cuba has allowed him to witness the daily difficulties faced by Cubans, from power outages and shortages to a lack of freedoms.
It has also reiterated Washington's commitment to human rights on the Island and to the release of political prisoners.
In that context, his visit to the Rincón de San Lázaro on a day of significant symbolic importance takes on a dimension that goes beyond a mere religious gesture.
Amid lit candles, fulfilled promises, and collective prayers, the official joined a tradition deeply rooted in Cuban identity and used that space of faith to convey a message focused on freedom and the fundamental rights of all Cubans.
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