Father Felix Varela considered one of “inventors of Cuban nationality”

Havana, Cuba, Sep 28, 2005 / 22:00 pm

During his induction into the Cuban Academy of Languages, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Havana, Msgr. Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, noted the relationship Father Felix Varela had with Spain and the building of the Cuban nationality.

Msgr. Cespedes called Father Varela one of the “inventors of Cuban nationality” and underscored the ties that unite Spain and Cuba, which go beyond the realm of politics.

He explained that Father Varela argued for “the necessity of Cuba’s political independence with relation to the Spain of that time, which was in political decline both internally and in the colonies.”  Nevertheless, Varela always maintained close ties with the “essence of Spain, the Spain that cannot be reduced to one or another political regime or to the situation of any given moment.”

Likewise, Msgr. Cespedes pointed out that during his participation as a representative at the Cortes of Cadiz, Father Varela was preparing a proposal to abolish slavery, but “the dissolution of the Cortes” and the return of Ferdinand VII prevented him from carrying it out.

Msgr. Cespedes is an essayist and writer and is considered one of the brightest intellectuals in Cuba.  He is the third member of the clergy in history to join the Academy of Languages.