Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino Dies in Cuba

July 26, 2019

His Eminence Most Reverend Jaime Lucas Cardinal Ortega Alamino, Archbishop Emeritus of San Cristóbal de La Habana, has passed away.

In the early hours of this Friday, July 26, Cardinal Ortega Alamino expired at the age of 82. His priestly vocation, his academic formation, and human sensitivity allowed him to attain the highest ecclesiastical dignity.

His tireless pastoral work and his love for Cuba led him to decisively strengthen relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the State.

His funeral will take place in the Cathedral of the city of La Habana, which was his see.

Below we reproduce the Notice from the Archbishopric of La Habana:

Monsignor Juan de la C. García
Archbishop of La Habana
Jaime Lucas Ortega Alamino
Cardinal of the Church
(October 18, 1936 – July 26, 2019)

Obituary Notice

Cardinal Jaime has passed away and as we begin to feel his physical absence, memories of his personal qualities and his tireless pastoral zeal revive, along with grateful affection.

"We carry this treasure in earthen vessels" II Cor 4,7

"My grace is sufficient for you" II Cor 12,9

These were the mottoes of his priestly and episcopal ordination, respectively, chosen by Jaime as inspiration for his priesthood, which began in the Cathedral of Matanzas on August 2, 1964, and was granted to him in full in that same Cathedral on January 14, 1979.

Both mottoes, in addition to his countless pastoral actions and works, allow us to approach the spiritual portrait of the shepherd whose absence we now grieve.

It is neither appropriate nor possible, given the nature of this notice, to encompass the fruitful work of his priestly years in the Diocese of Matanzas and as Bishop in the Diocese of Pinar del Río and in the Archdiocese of La Habana.

When we think today with affection and gratitude of Cardinal Jaime, we are encouraged to know that he will remain with us, accompanying us with the memory of his kind smile, his clear-sighted intelligence, and the testimony of a dedicated and sometimes suffering priesthood.

To those of us who were his friends and to the faithful in the three Dioceses in which he exercised his ministry, the promise of the Lord consoles us, which becomes particularly real and fulfilled in Cardinal Jaime:

"The life of the righteous is in the hands of the Lord" (Wis 3,1)

"They shall rest from their labors because their works follow them" Rev 14,13

Jaime Lucas Ortega Alamino

Cardinal of the Church

Rest in peace