English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
The coming of Benedict XVI to Cuba put the country on the move, the repression by the political police towards dissidents, opponents or defenders of human rights was incredible. Those three days were the darkest and most inhumane; detentions beginning days before the arrival of the Pope in Havana surprised many. Preparations for the Mass … Continue reading “What Pope Benedict XVI Left Us / Anddy Sierra Alvarez”
By Dagoberto Valdes, Pinar del Rio Cuba is not the same as in 1998 when John Paul II made the first papal visit in our history. Its government is not the same, though essential and structurally, it remains the same system. Its Church is not the same in its workings and leadership, although essentially and … Continue reading “The Cuba That Will be Visited by Pope Benedict XVI / IntraMuros, Dagoberto Valdes”
Three Cuban-Americans with different political ideologies (in terms of American politics) have put together a petition so that Pope Benedict XVI meet with Cuban dissidents in his upcoming visit to the island on March 26th. These activists are Giancarlo Sopo (a member of the Democrat Party), Keith Fernandez (Republican) and Nicolas Jimenez (Independent) and they … Continue reading “Sign “One Cuba”. A Petition for Pope Benedict XVI to Meet with the Opposition / Pieces of the Island”
14ymedio, Yoani Sanchez, Generation Y, Havana, 27 December 2019 — Through the “Weekly Packet” of audiovisuals that circulates so widely in Cuba, this week an excellent copy of Netflix’s film The Two Popes has reached viewers on the Island. The film addresses, as fiction, the moment of the resignation of Benedict XVI and the surprising rise of an … Continue reading “The Master Lesson of ‘The Two Popes’”
Ivan Garcia, 24 September 2015 — The best news for Celestino Cabrera, retiree, who lives in a neighborhood of low-rise houses and steep streets, was the arrival of half a kilogram of chicken per person at his area butcher shop. “For a week now we’ve been waiting for the ration-book chicken. Lots of Pope, but … Continue reading “Many Cubans Were Indifferent to the Pope’s Visit / Ivan Garcia”
14ymedio, Santiago de Cuba, 18 September 2015 – The place where Cachita* — as we fondly call our patron saint — receives her devotees has seen busy days before the arrival of Pope Francis. In the Basilica of the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre, located in Santiago de Cuba Province, the details for the the … Continue reading “El Cobre Prepares to Welcome Pope Francis / 14ymedio”
EFE, 14ymedio, Havana, 20 September 2105 — According to an announcement made by the Vatican spokesperson Federico Lombardi, Pope Francis met today with former president Fidel Castro at his Havana home. The meeting took place after the Pontiff celebrated mass in Havana’s Plaza of the Revolution. According to Lombardi, the meeting lasted approximately forty minutes, … Continue reading “Pope Francis Visits Fidel Castro in His Havana Home / EFE – 14ymedio”
14ymedio, Jorge Guillen Garcia*, Candelaria, Artemis, 19 September 2015 — Once again Cuban Catholics suffer humiliation by the Government, without the bishops doing much to stop it. After months of official silence about the Pope’s visit, this week we learned – from the bishops – that they had to deliver the lists of participants in religious … Continue reading “Bishops Agree to Cuban Communist Party Interference in Pope’s Religious Activities / 14ymedio, Jorge Guillen Garcia”
Luis Felipe Rojas, 12 September 2015 — Joy came to 3,522 Cuban homes, this being the the number of prisoners serving sentences for (technically) common crimes who set to be released. Indeed, this calls for celebration, as jails certainly do no reeducate anybody, much less in the island’s repressive atmosphere. Thus, the Cuban government has … Continue reading “The Crumbs That Pope Francis Will Eat in Cuba / Luis Felipe Rojas”
Reinaldo Escobar, Mexico, 15 September 2015 – Two convocations have been made to the Cuban people asking them to receive Pope Francis, one from the Communist Party, and one from Cardinal Jaime Ortega, the Archbishop of Havana. Both give details of the apostolic visit of the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church and the Head of … Continue reading “Crossed Convocations to Receive the Pope / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar”
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Mexico, 13 September 2015 — Fifty friends of Danilo Maldonado, El Sexto (the Sixth), signed a letter to Pope Francis on Sunday, asking him to intercede for the release of the artist. The letter, published in the digital site Causes, states: “We come to you with the hope that you can intercede to repair … Continue reading “Friends of ‘El Sexto’ Ask the Pope to Intercede for His Release / 14ymedio, Luz Escobar”
Freedom for Danilo Open Letter to the Pope Havana, September 8, 2015 Your Holiness, Pope Francis: In advance of your visit to our island, a group of Cuban citizens wish to call your attention to a case that needs an immediate solution. This is the politically motivated imprisonment of Danilo Maldonado Machado, a young artist … Continue reading “Open Letter to Pope Francis for the Release of “El Sexto””
14ymedio, Havana, 7 September 2015 — Pope Francis will meet with the Cuban president, Fidel Castro, during his upcoming trip to the island, scheduled from 19 to 22 September, as revealed on Monday on the site Vatican Insider. In the article, it is explained that the Vatican requested the meeting, which has received the green … Continue reading “The Pope Will Meet With Fidel Castro According To ‘Vatican Insider’ / 14ymedio”
14ymedio, Havana, 3 September 2015 – The executive secretary of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), Jose Daniel Ferrer, sent Pope Francis in a letter published this Thursday on the organization’s website, to warn him that on his upcoming visit to the island he is going to find a scenario very similar in many aspects … Continue reading “UNPACU asks the Pope for Solidarity with the Oppressed / 14ymedio”
It is unprecedented. For the first time in Catholicism’s more than two thousand year history, we have a pope from the Americas. The news did not go unnoticed in Havana, although the faithful did not gather euphorically at the doors to the cathedral, located in the historic heart of the city. Ricardo, a 43-year-old attorney … Continue reading “An American Pope”
