Raul Castro attends opening for new seminary in Cuba

The Catholic Church opened a new seminary in Cuba, and President Raul Castro attended the inaugural ceremony, in a vivid demonstration of the Church’s new influence.

The new seminary, dedicated to Sts. Charles and Ambrose, is the first major Catholic institution established in Cuba since the 1959 revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power. After years of open hostility toward the Church, the nation’s government has shown a growing appreciation for Catholic leadership in recent months; Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino of Havana was instrumental in securing the release of political prisoners earlier this year.

In a message to Cardinal Ortega, made public at the opening ceremonies on November 4, Pope Benedict XVI said that the seminary should be “a sign and a stimulus for a renewed commitment to strive for the careful human, spiritual and academic preparation of the those who, in that institution, ready themselves for the priestly ministry.”

In his own remarks, Cardinal Ortega thanked “both the former president, as well as current President Raul Castro, who honurs us with his presence, for the state's support of this work."