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The Catholic Church in Cuba celebrated this weekend the episcopal consecration of Monsignor Osmany Massó Cuesta, who entrusted the country and all its inhabitants to God, especially those facing the greatest challenges.
Massó Cuesta was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Bayamo-Manzanillo by Pope Leo XIV on January 3rd. His episcopal consecration took place on Saturday, March 14th, at the Cathedral of Santiago de Cuba, and was presided over by the archbishop of that archdiocese, Dionisio Guillermo García Ibáñez.
Also participating in the ceremony were the apostolic nuncio in Cuba, Antoine Camilleri, along with bishops, priests, nuns, worshippers, and local authorities, according to a report by ACI Prensa.
During the homily, the Bishop of Santa Clara, Marcelo González Amador, emphasized the significance of the laying on of hands over the new prelate, a gesture that —as he explained— represents the bishop being enveloped by the Word of God so that "the message of salvation, which has reached him, penetrated him, and covered him, may shine in his life and in the eyes of his contemporaries."
The prelate also emphasized that “this means that the bishop does not act on his own behalf; he acts in the name of Jesus Christ and His Church, of which he has been made a guardian and teacher.”
At the end of the ceremony, Massó Cuesta delivered a speech in which he expressed: “to our beloved nation, to all Cubans, especially to those who suffer the most, for all of us who yearn and believe in a better future to live, to feed, to work, to enjoy in peace and with dignity.”
The new bishop also expressed gratitude to those who participated in the celebration, including those who faced transportation difficulties to attend, a situation also reflected in posts shared on social media by the local Catholic community such as Sant’Egidio Santiago de Cuba.
He affirmed: “With this Eucharist of episcopal consecration, we have done nothing other than experience the living and active presence of Jesus Christ in His Church, the true Shepherd and Bishop of our souls.”
In his remarks, he added: “It is He who gathers, cares for, seeks, strengthens, and protects His people through those whom He calls and entrusts, without personal merit, with the task of shepherding them according to His heart.”
Massó Cuesta also recalled the words of Pope Leo XIV regarding the role of bishops in difficult times. Quoting the pontiff, he noted that a bishop is a man of faith "who, by the grace of God, sees beyond, sees the goal, and remains steadfast in the trial."
In that context, he also mentioned that “when the path of the people becomes more difficult” and “families bear excessive burdens and public institutions do not adequately support them; when young people are disillusioned and fed up with false messages (…), the bishop is nearby and does not offer recipes, but rather the experience of communities that strive to live the Gospel simply and share generously.”
The new bishop, the third pastor of the diocese of Bayamo-Manzanillo, also addressed the faithful in his territory, encouraging them to grow in faith and work together. In this regard, he expressed: “I ask God for a heart open to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, to discover what His will is (...), not to focus on my own opinion, but to know how to listen, accompany, educate, build bridges, and discern with the pastoral agents the new signs of the times, so that we may be able to dream and provide an evangelical response as is expected of us.”
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