Cuba

Cuba was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492. This beautiful island is called "the pearl of the Caribbean."

The first missionary to evangelize Cuba was Bartolomeo de Las Casas. Cuba had a holy archbishop, Saint Anthony Mary Claret (1807-1870), who consecrated his archdiocese of Santiago to the Immaculate Virgin Mary.

Under the regime of Fidel Castro (initiated in 1959), especially in the first years, the Church suffered an important persecution. Our Lady became the silent bulwark of the faith (notably in Camaguey).

Our Lady of Charity (El Cobre) is the first place where the slaves won their freedom. The patroness of Cuba, Our Lady of Charity was crowned by Saint John Paul II.

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Attilio GALLI, Madre della Chiesa dei Cinque continenti, Ed. Segno, Udine, 1997.