After thanking priests for "their faithfulness and tireless service to the Church and the faithful", the Pope turned to the topic of priestly vocations.
Benedict XVI said that he hoped "an increase in vocations and the simultaneous adoption of appropriate measures in this field, may soon enable the Cuban Church to have a sufficient number of priests, as well as the churches and places of worship necessary to accomplish her strictly pastoral and spiritual mission".
In order to address the need for more native Cuban priests, the Archdiocese of Havana began construction on a new seminary in July 2006. The new seminary will hold more than 100 seminarians.
"It is necessary", Pope Benedict said, that the Church not be afraid of “encouraging the young to follow the footsteps of Christ, Who alone is capable of satisfying their longing for love and happiness". He also urged the bishops to ensure that those in training to be future priests receive "the best possible spiritual, intellectual and human formation". Such training will enable them to identify themselves with the Heart of Christ, and to shoulder "the commitment to the priestly ministry", he said.
The shortage of priests in Cuba and the difficulties faced with obtaining visas for missionary clergy has led the Church in Cuba to stress the formation of the laity to strengthen the Church.
Noting how the bishops pastoral plan calls for the formation of "a committed laity", the Holy Father invited the prelates to encourage "an authentic process of education in the faith at various levels, with the help of well-trained catechists". Other points of formation that the Pope emphasized were, encouraging the "reading and prayerful meditation upon the Word of God", for the faithful, "as well as their frequent attendance at the Sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist".
The Pope also stressed how, with an "intense spiritual life and the support of a solid religious education", the laity "will be able to offer convincing testimony of their faith in all areas of society, illuminating them with the light of the Gospel. In this context, it is my hope that the Church in Cuba, in keeping with her legitimate aspirations, may enjoy normal access to the social communications media", an area where the government has intervened in the past.