Cuba's Cardinal Ortega celebrates 25 years as bishop

Published: 2004-01-20

HAVANA (CNS) -- Cuba's top church leader celebrated 25 years as a bishop and called for the church to push for reconciliation among the Cuban people. "We are preachers of love in this world, love that leads to dialogue, that leads to conversion, that leads to forgiveness," Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino of Havana said during his homily at the anniversary Mass Jan. 17. The Mass was held in the cathedral in Havana's Old City. Tourists, mostly Europeans, filtered in and out during the Mass, which was attended by hundreds of people, including members of the diplomatic corps. Referring to repeated calls for unity by Cuban President Fidel Castro, Cardinal Ortega said: "The church promotes unity in tasks and actions in the midst of the world, but this unity cannot be achieved by imposition. ... The church cannot act by imposition. It cannot achieve unity by dictatorial mandate. The church is not a dictator." Although he acknowledged that the church is not a democracy, Cardinal Ortega said: "There is no form of political organization better than a democracy. There's nothing better for a people."

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