Vatican City, Feb 14, 2006 / 22:00 pm
Today the Vatican released the text of a message sent from Pope Benedict XVI to Cardinal Jamie Ortega y Alamino, Archbishop of San Cristobal de La Havana, and president of the Cuban Bishop’s Conference. In it, he encouraged the people of Cuba to open their hearts to the God and the world, striving to find ways to live in peaceful coexistence.
The Pope’s message was sent on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Cuban National Ecclesial Encounter and dated February 2nd, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord,
It contains the Holy Father’s affectionate greetings to Cuba’s bishops, priests, consecrated people and laity and expresses his "spiritual closeness" and "encouragement for their evangelizing tasks."
Benedict began by recalling the words of the late Pope John Paul II during his 1998 Cuban visit, which he called particularly appropriate for the anniversary.