Cuba Honors Vatican Jubilee Spirit by Freeing Prisoners

Vatican, January 15, 2025: Cuba announced on Tuesday that it will release 553 prisoners convicted of various crimes, following a commitment made by President Miguel Díaz-Canel to Pope Francis in a recent letter. The release, undertaken “in the spirit of the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025,” reflects the close and constructive relationship between Cuba and the Vatican, as stated by Cuba’s foreign ministry. The freed individuals will regain their liberty in the coming days and weeks, aligning with the Pope's call for global amnesty during the Jubilee Year.  

Cuba’s foreign ministry highlighted its “respectful and frank” ties with the Vatican, strengthened through high-level discussions, including a pivotal meeting between President Díaz-Canel and Pope Francis in August 2022. During that meeting, the plight of prisoners and US foreign policy were key points of discussion. This release marks another chapter in the Vatican’s history of facilitating dialogue and action for prisoner amnesties in Cuba. 

The decision comes as US President Joe Biden notified Congress of his intent to lift Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, a move reportedly facilitated by the Church. The timing and context underscore the Vatican’s role in promoting reconciliation and humanitarian initiatives.

Pope Francis, in his Bull of Indiction for the Jubilee Year 2025, urged global leaders to undertake acts of amnesty and pardon to restore hope and reintegrate individuals into society. Past papal visits to Cuba have also inspired significant prisoner releases, such as during the visits of St. John Paul II in 1998, Benedict XVI in 2012, and Pope Francis in 2015.

This decision, tied to Cuba’s Jubilee Year celebration, continues a tradition of leveraging faith-inspired diplomacy for humanitarian progress, underscoring the Vatican’s enduring influence on global justice and reconciliation.

Courtesy: Vatican News