Havana, 3 June 2025._ The Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See, Paul Richard, arrived in Cuba for an official visit, within the framework of the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Upon his arrival at Havana's José Martí International Airport, he was received by the Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elio Rodríguez, the head of the Office of Religious Affairs of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, Caridad Diego Bello, and the Apostolic Nuncio Antoine Camilleri.
During his stay in the Caribbean nation, Richard will fulfill an official program that includes conversations with authorities of the island and his participation in activities organized by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba.
Relations between Cuba and the Vatican, established on June 7, 1935, were strengthened with the visit to the Holy See of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, in 1996.
Two years later, Pope John Paul II visited the island, becoming the first pontiff to set foot on Cuban soil.
In 2012, Benedict XVI presided masses in the cities of Havana and Santiago de Cuba, and in 2015, Francis made his first trip to the Caribbean nation, ratifying the will to continue strengthening bilateral relations.