Catholic bishops warn of "real risk" of social upheaval and call for dialogue

February 2, 2026

Facing the critical economic situation Cuba is experiencing due to lack of fuel and the worsening of U.S. sanctions, the Cuban Catholic Church raised its voice with an unusually grave message. On January 31, 2026, the bishops of Cuba addressed a letter to "all Cubans of good will" expressing "deep concern" about the growing unrest and hopelessness in the population. They warned that recent cuts in oil supply —vital for transportation, electricity, and basic services— have pushed many to the limits of endurance, creating a real risk of social chaos and violence "between children of the same people". The prelates —led by the Archbishop of Havana, Cardinal Juan de la Caridad García Rodríguez— emphasized that no one who loves Cuba can rejoice in such a possible explosion and called for it not to reach that extreme. In their message, the Church urged the search for solutions through sincere dialogue, reconciliation, and peaceful reforms, without adding more suffering to the most vulnerable. The text emphasizes: "Cuba needs no more suffering, no more mourning, no more bloodshed". The bishops called on the Cuban regime to "open itself to its own people", demanding a nation without exclusions and with space for a plurality of voices and projects. This message represents one of the most direct public criticisms of the Cuban ecclesiastical hierarchy toward the government in recent years. Pope León XIV publicly backed this call: in his Angelus on February 1, he expressed "great concern" about the escalation between the U.S. and Cuba, and urged the leaders of both nations to engage in effective dialogue and avoid violence, aligning with the petition of the Cuban bishops.