# Vatican-Cuba diplomatic and ecclesiastical relations

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/vatican-cuba-diplomatic-and-ecclesiastical-relations
> Updated: 2026-11-07T12:16:00.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

The Cuban government has extended an invitation to Pope Leo XIV to visit the island. During an announcement in the Vatican, Cuban ambassador Leyde Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández requested the Catholic Church’s support for Cuba’s campaign against the United States embargo, which he characterized as “cruel,” “illegal,” and “genocidal.”

Following this diplomatic outreach, Pope Leo XIV announced leadership changes within the Catholic Church in Cuba. The Pope accepted the resignation of Monsignor Dionisio García as Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, appointing Monsignor Juan Gabriel Díaz Ruiz, the former Bishop of Matanzas, as his successor.

## Timeline

### 2026-11-07: Vatican announces new episcopal appointments in Cuba and Paraguay

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Monsignor Juan Gabriel Díaz Ruiz as Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba and Monsignor Pierre Jubinville as Bishop of San Lorenzo in Paraguay.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vatican-announces-new-episcopal-appointments-in-cuba-and-paraguay

### 2026-10-24: Cuba invites Pope Leo XIV to visit the island

Cuba's ambassador to the Holy See has invited Pope Leo XIV to visit the island and requested Church support against the U.S. embargo.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cuba-invites-pope-leo-xiv-to-visit-the-island

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Cite as: Vatican-Cuba diplomatic and ecclesiastical relations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/vatican-cuba-diplomatic-and-ecclesiastical-relations