Cardinal leaves Cuba, hopes for new impetus in church-state relations

Published: 2008-02-27

HAVANA (CNS) -- Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, said he hoped his six-day visit had helped give "new impetus to relations between the church and the government of Cuba." "These relations will always be challenging, but also filled with opportunities to promote the well-being of the Cuban people," the cardinal said in a statement to the press at the Havana airport late Feb. 26, just before he left. The cardinal was the first foreign dignitary received by Cuban President Raul Castro, who took office Feb. 24. Castro, who had been acting as president since July 2006, replaced his brother, Fidel Castro, who announced the previous week that he was stepping down for health reasons. Cardinal Bertone said he had wished Raul Castro "success ... in this mission of service to his country" and had reaffirmed the Vatican's commitment to "help bring the world closer to Cuba and share common ground on international issues."

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