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The Father Rogelio Deán Puerta, parish priest of the El Cobre parish and Rector of the Sanctuary Basilica of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, delivered a homily this Sunday in which he urgently called for unity among all Cubans, both inside and outside the island, during the celebration of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.
The message was published by the Archbishopric of Santiago de Cuba on its social media and reflects one of the most direct calls made by the priest from the country's main sanctuary.
"One of the major problems in our Cuban national history has precisely been, for a long time, the significant differences among Cubans. It hurts. That disunity, that confrontation, that exaltation of pride has caused our people to suffer greatly, to live divided," stated Father Deán Puerta.
The priest did not shy away from the reality that Cuba faces today: "In our Cuban land today, there is sorrow. It is evident that there is sadness, there is pain, there is distress; we need new horizons, new perspectives where we can regain the joy that has distinguished us as a people, as Cubans."
He also warned about the danger of hatred as a destructive force for coexistence: "Hatred is subtle and leaves its mark. It pits us against one another and distances us from that communion which is God's style, which is what God desires for us."
In one of the most compelling passages of the sermon, Father Deán Puerta pointed out that the pursuit of justice cannot become an end in itself if it does not lead to reconciliation: "Justice that does not lead us to love and peace will never be true justice."
He called for the disappearance of "arrogance, self-sufficiency, and the desires for power that hurt us" so that Cubans can engage in dialogue and understand each other, concluding with a phrase that encapsulates the spirit of the entire homily: "We need to understand one another. Understanding cannot sometimes be delayed. Understanding is urgent, so that we can truly be happy living in communion."
From the Sanctuary, which he described as "the great house of the Mother of all Cubans," he announced that the community will continue to pray "for the unity of all Cubans, for love among Cubans, wherever we may be."
Father Deán Puerta gained significant public prominence following Hurricane Melissa in October 2025, when he became the main voice of the Church during the emergency.
The sanctuary sustained severe damage: over 80% of its stained glass windows destroyed and a fallen marble angel.
In January 2026, the priest coordinated the distribution of humanitarian aid to 500 families in El Cobre coming from the United States.
This homily is part of a pastoral line upheld by the Cuban Catholic Church. In December 2025, the Cuban Conference of Catholic Bishops called in its Christmas Message to "build bridges instead of walls" and to let go of resentments in order to "jointly build a better Cuba."
Similarly, in February 2026, the bishops had to cancel their visit to the pope due to a fuel shortage and the socioeconomic crisis, and Pope Leo XIV called for a "sincere and effective dialogue" regarding the situation in Cuba.
"May our Mother, the Virgen de la Caridad, continue to intercede so that we can truly live the gift of communion, of being one in diversity," concluded Father Deán Puerta before the faithful gathered in the symbolic heart of the Cuban identity.
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