Pope Francis spoke on Sunday, praising the recent release of Cuban prisoners as a significant “gesture of great hope.” He expressed his aspiration that such actions might be replicated globally, welcoming an agreement facilitated by the Vatican through a three-way dialogue with Washington and Havana that traces back to the Cuban missile crisis era.
Earlier this week, Cuba announced it would free 553 prisoners as part of the preparations for Francis’ 2025 Holy Year, having notified the Pope in advance of their decision. This announcement followed the Biden administration’s statement regarding its plans to remove Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. The Holy Year, which occurs every 25 years, predominantly aims to encourage the faithful to make pilgrimages to Rome. However, Pope Francis and his predecessors have historically utilized these occasions to request governments to extend gestures of mercy toward imprisoned individuals, a cause Francis has actively championed throughout his priesthood.
During his weekly blessing, Francis highlighted the Cuban prisoner release, pointing out its alignment with one of the objectives of the upcoming Jubilee year. “It is a gesture of great hope that concretizes one of the intentions of this Jubilee year,” he remarked. He further expressed his hope for similar initiatives in various regions worldwide, believing such actions would inspire confidence among individuals and communities.
In the wake of the release, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, an influential papal advisor with deep connections to Latin America, disclosed his behind-the-scenes involvement in the negotiations. In a personal blog post, he shared that he has relayed messages from Pope Francis to U.S. and Cuban leaders over the years, advocating for the release of prisoners and improved diplomatic relationships for the betterment of the Cuban populace. O’Malley asserted that Pope Francis’ sustained efforts have been pivotal in achieving this landmark agreement.
O’Malley’s comments hark back to earlier diplomatic initiatives he undertook alongside the now-disgraced ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick during the 2014 Vatican-mediated detente between the U.S. and Cuba, which revived diplomatic ties. This prior agreement is often considered one of the most significant diplomatic accomplishments of Pope Francis’ papacy. McCarrick was ultimately defrocked in 2019 following investigations into serious allegations of sexual misconduct.
The dialogue involving the Vatican, Cuba, and the United States has deep historical roots, reaching its zenith during the Cuban missile crisis in 1962. During this tense period, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev ordered the clandestine deployment of nuclear missiles in Cuba, escalating fears of nuclear confrontation. As the Kennedy administration deliberated a course of action, Pope John XXIII made heartfelt appeals for peace through radio broadcasts and direct communications to both Kennedy and Khrushchev, urging them to consider the welfare of their citizens. Many historians credit these diplomatic efforts with playing a critical role in averting a catastrophic war.
Church historian Alberto Melloni articulated that during this crisis, Pope John XXIII effectively utilized his diplomatic abilities, appealing to the leaders without directly pressuring them. He sought to connect with their compassion for families yearning for peace. Melloni pointed out that Khrushchev acknowledged the pope’s entreaties to the Politburo, which influenced the decision to pull back missiles from Cuba.
The year following this crisis, John XXIII published the pivotal encyclical “Pacem in Terris” (Peace on Earth), and he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom “with distinction” by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Recently, President Joe Biden presented Francis with a similar honor, marking it as the sole “with distinction” award granted during his presidency.
Pope Francis has prioritized ministering to prisoners throughout his tenure and recently visited Rome’s main prison at the commencement of the Holy Year to symbolize hope for incarcerated individuals. Historically, Cuba has connected prisoner releases to Vatican appeals, with numerous inmates being released prior to papal visits by St. John Paul II in 1998, Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, and Pope Francis in 2015.
Vatican officials view the recent prisoner release as a tangible example of the gestures they aim to witness during the Jubilee, alongside Zimbabwe’s abolition of the death penalty and Biden’s commutation of the sentences for 37 out of 40 federal death row prisoners, a decision the Pope had both prompted and later praised. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, echoed sentiments of hope for continued positive actions in the lead-up to the 2025 Jubilee. He expressed a desire for good news to proliferate, particularly in relation to ongoing global conflicts.
