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A photograph taken on July 19, 2003 during the funeral mass of Celia Cruz in Miami is circulating this week on social media and has sparked a wave of emotion among the Cuban-American community.
In the photo, a young man is seen sitting among the crowd, with a fixed gaze and a serious expression. His name is Marco Rubio, he attended the final farewell of the "Queen of Salsa," and interestingly, he is today the 72nd Secretary of State of the United States.
The image was shared by the Episcopal priest Father Alberto Cutié on his Instagram account, accompanied by the text: "I don't know if that young man sitting at the mass for Celia Cruz would have thought this back in the day, but today he is our U.S. Secretary of State, achieving great things for a free Cuba."
The post garnered over 11,400 likes and 281 comments in less than 24 hours, with followers from various nationalities expressing pride in the Cuban American who holds one of the world's most influential positions.
Among the most notable comments, one person remarked: "Not only Cubans are proud of Marco Rubio, Father Alberto. All Hispanics or the vast majority of Hispanics are proud of our Secretary of State. May God continue to grant him wisdom, health, and strength to keep fighting for humanity."
Another follower wrote: "Just look at his gaze... it says EVERYTHING. May the Lord protect him. Him and all those who wish for good."
The image also sparked reflections on the symbolism of the moment: "Her gaze says it all. Only Cubans can interpret that deep look in the face of Celia Cruz's physical death, a woman filled with love for Cuba who never gave up," wrote another user.
Father Cutié, Rector of Saint Benedict Church in Plantation, Florida, and an influential media figure in the Hispanic community of southern Florida, emphasized in his post that pride in Rubio transcends partisan politics.
Rubio, born in Miami on May 28, 1971, to Cuban immigrants, was confirmed as Secretary of State on January 20, 2025, with a historic vote of 99-0 in the U.S. Senate.
The photo resonates particularly in the current context because in recent days, Rubio has intensified his stance against the Cuban regime. Last Wednesday, he labeled Cuba as a "failed state" and stated that its system "does not work and cannot be fixed if the same people remain in power."
On May 20th, Cuba's Independence Day, Rubio sent a direct message to the Cuban people offering a "new relationship" with the United States.
Celia Cruz, who never returned to Cuba after the triumph of the Revolution, passed away on July 16, 2003, in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and became a symbol of resistance for the Cuban exile community. Her body was transported to Miami three days later for a funeral service that mobilized thousands of Cuban Americans before continuing to New York.
Several followers in the post by Father Cutié went beyond the present and projected an even higher future for Rubio: “He will be president of the United States!” wrote one internet user, while another simply noted: “Future president!”
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