The Cuban delegation to the enthronement of Pope Leo XIV, headed by the country’s vice-president, Salvador Valdés Mesa, ended its visit to Italy today, where it carried out an intense agenda of activities.
The delegation, which on behalf of the State, Government and people of the island attended the ceremony held last Sunday in the Vatican, was also made up of Caridad Diego, head of the Office of Attention to Religious Affairs of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, and the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elio Rodríguez.
Valdés Mesa was received during the Eucharistic celebration by the new Supreme Pontiff, to whom he reaffirmed his government’s desire to continue working to strengthen relations between Cuba and the Holy See, as previously expressed in a message by the President of the Antillean nation, Miguel Díaz-Canel.
The Cuban delegation arrived in Rome on the night of 16 May and, as part of their activities, together with the ambassadors to Italy and the Holy See, Mirta Granda and René Mujica, respectively, paid homage to Pope Francis on Saturday morning.
Valdés Mesa and the members of his delegation placed white roses to the man who was a sincere friend of the people of the West Indian nation, at his simple tomb located in the Basilica of Santa María la Mayor.
Later, at 09:00 local time that day, the members of the delegation participated in an emotional act in remembrance of the National Hero of Cuba, José Martí, in the framework of the activities for the 130th anniversary of his fall in combat, on May 19, 1895.
Among those present were a large number of leaders and members of groups in solidarity with Cuba, the community of Cuban nationals living in this European nation, political and trade union organisations, left-wing student groups, as well as officials from the Cuban Embassy in Italy.
At 18:30 local time last Sunday, shortly after his participation in the enthronement of Leo XIV, Valdés Mesa and the other members of his delegation held a meeting at the Cuban Embassy in Rome with members of the Cuban missions to Italy and the Holy See.
The Cuban vice-president spoke about the importance of this visit to attend the inaugural ceremony of the new Pontificate, preceded by the one held at the end of April this year, on the occasion of the funeral of Pope Francis, both of great importance, a sign of the positive relations between Cuba and the Holy See, which are 90 years old.
In his speech, Valdés Mesa stressed the unity of his people and the majority support for the Revolution, as well as the confidence that, despite the complex situation aggravated by the intensification of the economic, commercial and financial blockade by the United States, which «is squeezing us so that we don’t even have oxygen», the country will move forward.
