The visit of the bishops of Cuba to Pope Leo XIV, announced for this February, has had to be postponed "because current conditions do not allow it," Vatican sources told EFE, referring to fuel shortages on the island.
The Cuban bishops had planned the traditional "ad limina" visit, which the episcopates make every 5 years to the Vatican, between February 16 and 20, including an audience with Pope Leo XIV.
However, Vatican sources confirmed to EFE today that the trip will not be possible "because current conditions do not allow it," following reports that the trip could not be made due to a lack of fuel in the Caribbean country, which ran out of fuel for its planes on Tuesday because of the US oil embargo.
On February 1, during the Angelus prayer, Leo XIV called on Cuba and the United States for "a sincere and effective dialogue to avoid violence and any action that could increase the suffering of the Cuban people," following the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square. "I have received with great concern news of the increased tensions between Cuba and the United States, two neighboring countries, and I join the message of the Cuban bishops to promote dialogue…," said the Pope, appearing at the window of his study in the Apostolic Palace.
The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba (COCC) had expressed the previous day “its deep concern” at what it considered a “worsening” of the economic and social situation in the country, and urged “the search for paths of dialogue and structural changes.”
“Cuba needs changes and they are increasingly urgent, but it does not need any more anguish or pain,” stressed the message from the Cuban Catholic bishops, referring to a possible halt in oil supplies following US President Donald Trump’s order to impose tariffs on countries that sell crude oil to the island. Fuel shortages have exacerbated the island's already widespread crisis, which has seen a cumulative GDP decline of over 15%, according to various estimates, along with shortages of basic goods, prolonged daily blackouts, runaway inflation, partial dollarization, and mass migration. Source: EFE - https://efe.com/mundo/2026-01-31/cuba-obispos-iglesia-crisis-cambios-dialogo/
However, Vatican sources confirmed to EFE today that the trip will not be possible "because current conditions do not allow it," following reports that the trip could not be made due to a lack of fuel in the Caribbean country, which ran out of fuel for its planes on Tuesday because of the US oil embargo.
On February 1, during the Angelus prayer, Leo XIV called on Cuba and the United States for "a sincere and effective dialogue to avoid violence and any action that could increase the suffering of the Cuban people," following the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square. "I have received with great concern news of the increased tensions between Cuba and the United States, two neighboring countries, and I join the message of the Cuban bishops to promote dialogue…," said the Pope, appearing at the window of his study in the Apostolic Palace.
The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba (COCC) had expressed the previous day “its deep concern” at what it considered a “worsening” of the economic and social situation in the country, and urged “the search for paths of dialogue and structural changes.”
“Cuba needs changes and they are increasingly urgent, but it does not need any more anguish or pain,” stressed the message from the Cuban Catholic bishops, referring to a possible halt in oil supplies following US President Donald Trump’s order to impose tariffs on countries that sell crude oil to the island. Fuel shortages have exacerbated the island's already widespread crisis, which has seen a cumulative GDP decline of over 15%, according to various estimates, along with shortages of basic goods, prolonged daily blackouts, runaway inflation, partial dollarization, and mass migration. Source: EFE - https://efe.com/mundo/2026-01-31/cuba-obispos-iglesia-crisis-cambios-dialogo/
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