The crisis between the United States and Cuba has entered a new phase of tension marked by Washington’s economic pressure, the social deterioration on the island, and discreet diplomatic movements in Rome. In this context, the Holy See has launched a mediation activity between both parties, although the conversations are progressing in a climate that Vatican sources describe as “neither easy nor rosy”.
The background of the conflict between Washington and Havana
The current escalation is occurring within the framework of the maximum pressure policy driven by the administration of President Donald Trump, which has reinforced sanctions and restrictions on the island. Washington maintains that these measures seek to limit the financial capacity of the Cuban regime and weaken its repressive apparatus.
Havana, for its part, denounces a deliberate economic asphyxiation that affects the supply of fuel and the capacity to import basic goods. In recent weeks, prolonged blackouts, shortages of food and medicines, and growing social unrest have marked daily life on the island.
The tension increased after an incident in which four crew members of a vessel from the United States died during a shootout with the Cuban border guard, an episode that further heightened the climate of confrontation.
The United States attributes the structural collapse of the energy and health systems to decades of internal mismanagement by the Castroist regime. Cuba, on the other hand, points to the embargo and sanctions as determining causes. Amid this confrontation, the Cuban people are enduring a situation that the bishops have described as critical.
Voices from the Cuban Church amid the crisis
The Church in Cuba has raised its voice to describe a reality that goes beyond political figures. In statements gathered by ACI Prensa, the bishop of Cienfuegos-Santa Clara, Monsignor Domingo Oropesa, stated that “the way we are living is not human,” pointing to the prolonged lack of essential goods, energy difficulties, and the direct impact on Cuban families.
Oropesa emphasized that the situation demands a profound change in the country, and that the pain and uncertainty of the population cannot be ignored by those who hold government responsibilities. The stance of the Cuban bishops adds to the warning messages about a real risk of greater social collapse, especially after decisions aimed at blocking the energy supply.
The bishops also highlighted their concern over greater internal instability and the impact of the crisis on the most vulnerable sectors.
Active mediation and contacts in Rome
In this scenario, the Holy See is developing a mediation activity between the United States and Cuba. This has been confirmed to Agenzia Nova by a source close to the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Currently in Rome are the Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, and the head of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Havana, Mike Hammer.
The Cuban chancellor, a veteran diplomat considered pragmatic even during the Obama administration, would have come to Rome to address the situation on the island with the Holy See. It is not ruled out that the conversations include indirect contacts with Hammer, although there is no confirmation of a formal meeting between them.
Washington calls for greater involvement from the Church
Mike Hammer has publicly reinforced the political dimension of the moment. In an interview given to EWTN Noticias, he stated that Cuba is experiencing a “decisive moment” and that there are “high-level” exchanges within the regime to explore a possible transition.
The diplomat attributed the energy and health collapse to “policies poorly carried out by the Cuban regime over nearly seven decades,” rejecting that the crisis is a direct consequence of U.S. sanctions. He also urged the Vatican and the Church in Cuba to speak out more clearly on human rights and the release of political prisoners.
Hammer met in Rome with the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher, and the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch. In that meeting, the relevant role of the Church in Cuban society was highlighted. The United States has also channeled nine million dollars in humanitarian aid through the Catholic Church and Catholic Relief Services, avoiding direct intermediation by the regime.
The pastoral concern of Leo XIV
On February 1, after the Angelus, Leo XIV expressed his closeness “to the dear Cuban people.” The day before, the Cuban bishops had warned of the “real risk of a greater social collapse” amid the economic deterioration and energy restrictions.
In an interview given to Vatican News, Father Ariel Suárez Jáuregui, deputy secretary of the Cuban Episcopal Conference, described a panorama of shortages of food, medicines, and basic resources, emphasizing that the Church is trying to be a “sign of charity and consolation” for the population.
Additionally, the visit that the Cuban bishops had planned to make to the Vatican in February was postponed due to the worsening of the internal situation.
The Venezuelan precedent
The Cuban mediation comes after the Holy See’s failed attempt to facilitate a negotiated way out in Venezuela before the U.S. military operation that culminated in the detention of Nicolás Maduro on January 3. According to the Washington Post, Cardinal Parolin then attempted to open a diplomatic channel with U.S. officials to avoid bloodshed.
Although that effort did not succeed, it confirmed the Pontiff’s direct involvement in Hispanic American affairs, a region in which Robert Francis Prevost developed more than twenty years of episcopal ministry before his election.
Awaiting an agreement
For now, there is no official announcement of an agreement or formalized mediation. However, the conversations are active. In a scenario marked by economic pressure, the social crisis on the island, and a complex relationship between Washington and the Vatican, the Holy See is once again positioning itself as a possible facilitator in a negotiation whose outcome remains uncertain.