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The difficulties with transportation in Cuba, marked by fuel shortages, have impacted the pilgrimage to the sanctuary of the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre, one of the main religious destinations in the country.
According to information from the page on Facebook of the Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba, 7,431 pilgrims visited the sanctuary during the past week.
Although the figure reflects a decrease compared to previous phases, the Church highlighted the perseverance of the faithful despite the obstacles to getting there.
The publication notes that, despite the serious limitations in transportation, the people's faith remains strong, and fulfilling promises requires additional sacrifices in the current national context.
It is also true that the deep economic crisis facing the population often drives many individuals to seek refuge in faith as a source of comfort and hope amid persistent material shortages.
That context might explain why, despite transportation difficulties and fuel shortages, pilgrimages to the sanctuary continue to be a vibrant expression of popular religiosity.
The sanctuary maintains its usual hours of operation, open every day of the year from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., while the Church calls for a strengthening of prayer and spiritual life at the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent.
The decrease in the influx of pilgrims occurs amidst a mobility crisis affecting the entire country, with reductions in public transportation and challenges in traveling between provinces, a situation that restricts both daily activities and expressions of popular religiosity.
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