Havana: The Catholic bishops of Cuba are set to travel to the Vatican later this month for a significant pastoral and institutional visit, during which they will meet Pope Leo XIV and senior officials of the Roman Curia to present a comprehensive account of the life of the Church on the island.
According to an announcement from the Cuban Conference of Catholic Bishops (COCC), the delegation will be in Rome from February 16 to 20 as part of their ad limina apostolorum visit, a mandatory pilgrimage bishops undertake every five years. During this visit, each diocesan bishop meets personally with the Pope, submits a report on the spiritual and pastoral condition of his diocese, and prays at the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul.
In a message to be read at Masses across Cuba, the bishops explained that the journey will include prayer in Rome’s four major basilicas, meetings with Vatican dicasteries, and their first official encounter with Pope Leo XIV since his election. They said they will share with the pontiff “the trials, sufferings, joys, and hopes of the Church in Cuba,” reflecting both the pastoral challenges and signs of faith present among the Cuban people.
The COCC confirmed that the meeting with Pope Leo XIV is scheduled for the morning of Friday, February 20. The bishops expressed particular anticipation for the encounter, noting that the Holy Father has a personal familiarity with Cuba, having visited the country twice in the past during his tenure as Superior General of the Augustinian Order.
The Vatican visit takes place against a sensitive social and political backdrop. The Catholic Church in Cuba is currently the sole channel distributing humanitarian aid sent by the United States government to communities affected by Hurricane Melissa, a process being carried out without the involvement of Cuban state authorities. In parallel, several Cuban bishops have recently held discussions with Mike Hammer, the chargé d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Havana.
Tensions between Cuba and the United States have also drawn papal attention. On February 1, Pope Leo XIV voiced concern over reports of growing strain in bilateral relations and publicly supported a message issued by the Cuban bishops on January 31. He urged political leaders to pursue “sincere and effective dialogue” and warned against actions that could deepen the suffering of the Cuban population.
In preparation for the ad limina visit, the bishops have asked the faithful throughout Cuba to support them through prayer. A special prayer published on the COCC website calls on Christ the Good Shepherd to grant the bishops spiritual renewal, deeper communion with the Pope, and attentive listening during their meetings in Rome. The prayer also entrusts the bishops to the protection of Our Lady of Charity, patroness of Cuba, asking that they return strengthened in faith and renewed in missionary zeal.
As the bishops prepare to kneel at the tombs of the apostles, they say they will carry with them the wounds and hopes of the Cuban Church and people especially those living in poverty, isolation, and hardship seeking guidance and encouragement from the universal Church at a critical moment in the nation’s life.