The Pope Francisco highlighted the importance of dialogue and inclusion in Cuba through a message read during the act to cancel a postage stamp for the 25th anniversary of John Paul II’s visit to the island.
During the cancellation of the postage stamps that commemorate that papal trip, the apostolic nuncio to the island, Giampiero Gloder, read this Wednesday Francis’ message outlining John Paul II’s motivations for carrying out that event.
?| Act of commemorative postal cancellation to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Apostolic Journey of Saint John Paul II to the Republic of #Cuba.
They cancel the seal, envoy of Pope Francis, His Eminence Mr. Cardinal Beniamino Stella, @GerardoPPortal Y @Wilfre_GV. pic.twitter.com/i64koXD3je
— Cuban Foreign Ministry (@CubaMINREX) January 25, 2023
“He was truly a pontiff in the sense of the word. He wanted to build bridges to favor the path of dialogue and for the construction of the nation, with the contribution of all and for the good of all,” Gloder read.
The Pope also pointed out, according to these quotes from the agency efe to his text, that the visit of John Paul II marked “not only the relations (of Cuba) with the Catholic Church and the Holy See, but also the historical moment,” in addition to facilitating the country’s ties at the international level. Francis also asked in the message to preserve the Christian roots of the Island.
The cancellation of the stamp took place within the framework of the visit of Cardinal Beniamino Stella, who arrived this Monday to meet with Cuban government authorities and participate in pastoral activities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minrex) indicated in a statement.
Stella, who was apostolic nuncio to Cuba between 1993 and 1999, last visited Cuba in April 2015, a few months before Pope Francis’ trip to Cuba.
The Pope recalled in a letter sent last December to the Cuban bishops on the occasion of the anniversary of the apostolic trip of John Paul II, that Cardinal Stella was “a privileged witness of that event.”
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Francis expressed his desire that “during this time the gestures and words” that John Paul II addressed to them during his visit be made present in their hearts again.
“May they resonate strongly in the present, and give new impetus to continue building the future of that nation with hope and determination,” the pope wrote, according to the Spanish news agency.
