Related videos:
The Diocese of Cienfuegos reported this Saturday that Monsignor Juan Francisco Vega Rodríguez, known as Father Vega, suffered a fall in his room that resulted in an intracapsular fracture of his right hip.
According to the official statement signed by Bishop Monseñor Domingo Oropesa Lorente, the priest is at his home under medical care and is required to return to the hospital in a week to continue his evaluation and treatment.
The diocesan statement specified that the accident occurred "on the morning of this Saturday in his room," without providing further details about the circumstances of the fall.
Father Vega is the General Vicar of the Diocese of Cienfuegos, a position he has held since June 1967 when he began as a vicar at the Cathedral of Cienfuegos, which represents over five decades of service in the province.
This new accident occurs just two weeks after Father Yuniel Alfonso Quintero, known as Father Lolo, fell from the roof of a church in Cienfuegos on April 21, suffering fractures in his hip and skull.
That priest was urgently admitted to the intensive care unit of the Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía Lima University General Hospital, where he was subjected to a successful surgical intervention on April 24.
Days later, his prognosis was deemed hopeful: he remained stable, had almost completely regained his memory, and was speaking clearly.
On April 26, Father Lolo was discharged from the hospital after a favorable recovery, although with limitations on visits as per medical advice.
The official statement from the diocese regarding Father Vega's accident also mentions Father Lolo, noting that he "continues to make progress in his recovery process."
In less than two weeks, the Diocese of Cienfuegos has had to issue two official statements regarding priest accidents, during a period that was also marked by the passing of Bishop Emeritus Jorge Enrique Serpa Pérez on April 17 in Havana, at the age of 84.
The structural deterioration of Cuban churches due to chronic lack of maintenance is a documented risk factor on the Island, although the exact causes of Father Lolo's fall from the roof were never officially revealed.
Bishop Oropesa Lorente concluded the statement with a call to the community of believers: "We ask all the people of God to raise their prayers for a swift recovery," and requested the intercession of "Holy Mary, Loving Mother," to grant them "a quick and complete recovery."
Filed under: