Cuban Ambassador to the Holy See criticizes U.S. economic policy

During a seminar titled ‘Religion and Diplomacy’ marking the 30th anniversary of the International Caritas Political Association, Cuba’s ambassador to the Holy See, Leyde Rodríguez Hernández, criticized United States policy toward Cuba. He described the U.S. approach of “maximum pressure and economic asphyxiation of the Cuban people” as illegal, contrary to human dignity, and a cause of suffering for Cuban families.

Rodríguez also discussed the historical connections between religion, culture, and national identity in Cuba. He highlighted the role of faith and spiritual traditions in shaping the nation’s sovereignty and international relations. A central figure mentioned was the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, the patron saint of Cuba, who serves as a symbol of national unity. The ambassador noted that her image is represented in a sculpture within the Vatican Gardens and recalled her declaration as Cuba’s patron by Pope Benedict XV in 1916.