The support and solidarity of the faith community around the world with Cuba was reaffirmed by a delegation of international ecumenical leaders who are on the island for a high-level pastoral visit.
In a press conference, the visitors shared with national and international media gathered at the International Press Center some of their impressions of this historic journey, given the simultaneous presence of so many secretaries of the global ecumenical movement, amidst the complex context the country is experiencing due to the intensification of the siege imposed by the United States government.
Rev. Dr. Jerry Pillay (D).
Regarding this policy of encirclement, Reverend Dr. Jerry Pillay, Secretary General of the World Council of Churches (WCC), commented that Cuba poses no threat to any country; on the contrary, it is Washington, he said, that threatens and maintains maximum pressure on the largest island of the Antilles.
He thus considered the four-day visit very enlightening due to the opportunity to meet with representatives of the Cuban State, Government, and authorities, as well as congregations and members of the faith community, who reaffirmed that most of the current limitations stem from the blockade and the pressure exerted by the U.S. administration.
He noted that the world is going through extremely complex times, characterized by wars and a total disregard for peace, sovereignty, and the rights of peoples, and that being here is a way of demonstrating that the international faith community stands with Cuba and that the plea for the archipelago and its inhabitants is always present in their prayers and hearts.
In response to a question from the Cuban News Agency regarding the inclusion of the Caribbean nation on the list of countries that, according to the United States, do not respect freedom of religion, Pillay stated that it is unfortunate to use religions for purposes that have nothing to do with their founding principles. He clarified that these claims, besides being false and unfounded, are part of the narrative used by the White House to justify its aggression.
“As Christians, we believe that when one person suffers, it is everyone’s suffering, and the same applies to entire nations. Therefore, we feel a responsibility to pray with you and for you and to let the world know what we witnessed here,” he added.
Rev. Dr. Philip V. Peacock.
The Reverend Dr. Philip V. Peacock, General Secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, emphasized the commitment to accompany the Cuban people’s struggle from a faith-based perspective and to let them know that they are not alone in facing the threats and aggressions imposed upon them.
Faced with this scenario, he emphasized that U.S. imperialism is trying to extinguish this example of Cuban resistance in the face of adversity and of bringing solidarity to other corners of the world—principles that threaten its hegemony and call for the creation of a new world of peace, justice, and dignity for all.
Rev. Reynaldo Ferreira Leão Neto.
Reverend Reynaldo Ferreira Leão Neto, Secretary General of the World Methodist Council, offered his prayers for Cuba, while also recalling that amidst the Holy Week celebrations, no suffering is indifferent to God’s mercy, and that millions around the world desire His intercession for the island.
In this vein, he appealed to the role of the Church in building bridges of understanding between people and always providing avenues to promote ties and dialogue for reconciliation among all beings.
“We pray for an end to the blockade and that no military aggression will occur,” he concluded.
Those present acknowledged the need to confront the current turbulent situation with the will to achieve peace through dialogue and the avoidance of violence and recognized in their meetings the Cuban side’s willingness to uphold these principles.
Bishop Anthony Poggo (D).
At the same time, they reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close ties through the Cuban Council of Churches (CIC) to work in solidarity.
Also present were Reverend Jihyun Oh, Permanent General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA); Reverend Michael Blair, General Secretary of the United Church of Canada (UCC); and Reverend Jimmie R. Hawkins, Director of Advocacy for the PCUSA Office of Public Affairs in Washington, D.C., and the United Nations Office; as well as Bishop Anthony Poggo, General Secretary of the Anglican Communion; Dora Arce Valentin, General Secretary of the Association of Reformed Churches in Latin America (AIPRAL); and Joel Ortega Dopico, President of the CIC.
IMAGE CREDIT: José Manuel Lapeira Casas | Photos: Omara García Mederos
[ SOURCE: AGENCIA CUBANA DE NOTICIAS ]
