Havana, May 8 (Prensa Latina) Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel today congratulated American Robert Prevost, the newly elected Supreme Pontiff who took the name of Leo XIV, as revealed this Thursday by Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti.
In addition to congratulating Pope Francis’s successor, the head of state also expressed his willingness to collaborate with the Catholic Church in promoting dialogue and peace.
“We share the desire to promote dialogue and peace,” Díaz-Canel stated in separate messages on WhatsApp and Telegram.
He also stated that the island will continue working to strengthen “relations between Cuba and the Holy See,” which will celebrate their 90th anniversary in 2025.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez also greeted the first American pope.
“We join in congratulating His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his recent election,” the Chancellor wrote on the social network X.
“We reiterate the Cuban government’s willingness to continue strengthening the positive relations between Cuba and the Holy See,” he added.
Son of Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martínez, of Spanish descent, Prevost was born on September 14, 1955, in the American city of Chicago.
He studied at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where he earned a Master’s degree in Theology with a specialization in Intercultural Mission in 1982, and his doctorate at the Angelicum University in Rome.
He speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese, and in his first speech after his election, he emphasized the importance of building bridges to promote peace, guarantee justice, and solve the problems affecting humanity.
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