Havana/The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba has canceled the trip to the Vatican that it had announced for February 16, due to the possible massive cancellation of flights to the Island due to the critical shortage of fuel. They announced their decision on Sunday, one day after the Cuban Government announced that, starting February 9 and for a whole month, the country would not have enough kerosene to recharge the planes that arrive to the Island.
The visit of the prelates was the traditional one Ad Limina Apostolarumin which every five years they present a report to the Supreme Pontiff on the situation of their dioceses, but on this occasion it had raised many expectations. First of all, because it would mean the first meeting with the new pope and, secondly, because of the situation on the island, under pressure from the United States. Last week, Leo XIV himself expressed his concern for Cuba and from San Pedro Square. asked both countries to establish a “sincere and effective dialogue.”
The Cuban bishops themselves had warned that, in the last six months, the situation in the country has deteriorated
The Cuban bishops themselves had warned that, in the last six months, the situation in the country has deteriorated and that anguish and hopelessness have spread among the people, so they were expected to take a message directly to the Vatican about the seriousness of the social and economic scenario that the Island is going through. There was also within the Church the expectation that the meeting would serve to reinforce a more active role of mediation and international accompaniment, as has already happened in other moments, when the Catholic Church in Cuba has participated in humanitarian efforts, in processes of liberation of political prisoners and in the help pipeline through Caritas.
Like the prelates, many travelers wonder what to do with their trips to Cuba. They are currently found on the island approximately 4,000 Russian tourists, so Russian and Cuban authorities are holding talks. Some airlines, such as Air Canada, have canceled all their flights to Cuba and others, such as Iberia or Air Europa, have sought as an alternative to refuel in the Dominican Republic to maintain their routes to Cuba. In any case, the outlook is uncertainand embassies such as those of Sweden, Spain, Mexico and the United States have published alerts for their citizens due to the deterioration of living conditions on the Island.
