MIAMI, United States. – The Cuban ruler, Miguel Díaz-Canel, declared this Wednesday an official mourning on the Island for the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, occurred on December 31. The measure will be in force this January 5, from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm.
“Our people, with deep regret, have learned of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, whom he had the opportunity to welcome with feelings of respect and affection during his pastoral visit to Cuba in 2012,” it reads. the note published in Granma to justify the declaration of official mourning.
It also indicates that “Benedict XVI expressed affectionate sentiments towards Cubans and spoke out against the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on Cuba, pointing out that the efforts to cement a society with broad horizons, renewed and reconciled, are affected when the economic measures imposed from outside the country weigh negatively on the population”.
Described as a brilliant theologian and statesman, and more conservative in essence than his predecessor, Benedict XVI revolutionized the Catholic Church in 2013 when he asked for his resignation, citing his “advanced age” as the reason. After eight years as head of the Vatican, Joseph Ratzinger was the first Holy Father in 600 years to dare to step down from his post.
His resignation coincided with a sexual abuse scandal involving the Catholic Church. According to the information revealed then, Ratzinger in his time as Archbishop of Munich, would have found out about cases of sexual abuse that he never reported.
For his part, the pope emeritus responded that he had never covered up any abuser.
Documents from the Holy See that suggested corruption, mismanagement and infighting were subsequently leaked. These documents were leaked to the press by Paolo Gabriele, who was a butler of the Vatican.
Benedict XVI apologized on several occasions and met with victims of these abuses during his trips to the US, Malta, the UK and Australia.
In London he admitted for the first time that the Church was not sufficiently “vigilant, swift and decisive” when dealing with child sexual abuse.
Later, in April 2019, Benedict XVI spoke about the sexual abuse crisis in a public letter. He blamed part of this crime on the sexual revolution of the 1960s as the cause and the liberalization of the Church’s moral teachings.
In March 2012, Benedict XVI visited Cuba for almost three days and was received by then-ruler Raúl Castro. In his public appearances, he avoided political allusions about the system and the government, although he called for “authentic freedom” for Cubans.
“I carry in my heart the just aspirations and legitimate wishes of all Cubans, wherever they are,” said Joseph Ratzinger, who was the second Catholic pontiff to visit the largest of the Antilles.
Receive information from CubaNet on your cell phone through WhatsApp. Send us a message with the word “CUBA” on the phone +525545038831, You can also subscribe to our electronic newsletter by giving click here.
