Holy See Authority starts official program in Cuba

Havana, June 4th. - The Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See, Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher, begins his official visit to Cuba today.

In the context of the celebrations for the 90th anniversary of the establishment of relations between the Caribbean nation and the Holy See, the archbishop arrived in this capital on Tuesday evening.

Upon his arrival at José Martí International Airport, he was greeted by Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs Elio Rodríguez, Caridad Diego, head of the Office of Religious Affairs of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, and Apostolic Nuncio Antoine Camilleri.

According to a statement from the island's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Monsignor Gallagher's presence in Havana is "a sign of the positive state of relations between the two states."

Specifically, his agenda here includes participating in a postal cancellation ceremony marking the 90th anniversary of bilateral ties.

He also has a meeting scheduled with Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodríguez and will attend a Thanksgiving Mass for the beginning of the Pontificate of His Holiness Leo XIV.

He is also scheduled to attend the opening of an exhibition on relations between Cuba and the Holy See, meet with members of the nation's Episcopal Conference, and tour the Paula Church Nursing Home.

Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See since November 2014, is scheduled to conclude the visit next Friday. (Text and photo: PL)