Archbishop underscores essential role of Church in Cuba

Archbishop underscores essential role of Church in Cuba
February 4, 2011

Havana, Cuba, (CNA).- Archbishop Angelo Becciu, the apostolic nuncio to
Cuba, recently stressed that the Catholic Church "plays a very important
role" in the country.

Archbishop Becciu underscored the commitment of the bishops and priests
to help Cubans amid the difficulties they face. His comments came in an
interview published Jan. 29 by the Cuban bishops' conference.

He also referred to the pilgrimage site, the statue of Our Lady of
Charity. "Mary can help Cubans feel that they are one family," he said,
adding that after many years in which pilgrimages were prohibited, it is
"amazing to see such a huge response from the people."

"This has been a unique experience for me," he said.

In the 1960s the Cuban government began outlawing processions and other
religious acts outside of churches. Such prohibitions began to be rolled
back after Pope John Paul II visited Cuba in 1998 and the government
reinstated Christmas as a holiday.

The devotion to Our Lady of Charity in Cuba dates back to 1612, when
three young men found the statue in Nipe Bay. The statue bore the
inscription, "I am the Virgin of Charity."

Devotion to Our Lady of Charity quickly spread throughout the country,
and years later the statue was taken to an area called Cobre, where
there were numerous copper mines.

John Paul II crowned the statue as Queen and Patroness of Cuba on Jan.
24, 1998, during a Mass in Santiago

http://www.dfwcatholic.org/archbishop-underscores-essential-role-of-church-in-cuba12283/.html