WCC news: WCC general secretary met with Cuban president

In a visit to Cuba from 17-19 December, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay met with Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel at the Palacio de las Convenciones in Havana. “I was deeply impressed with our heart-to-heart meeting with the president of Cuba,” expressed Pillay. Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay and Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel. Photo: Estudios Revolución 19 December 2023 Pillay underscored the WCC’s ongoing support for Cuban people and churches, and reiterated the WCC’s stance against the commercial and financial blockade against Cuba by the US. The meeting ended with Díaz Canel requesting the general secretary to pray for him and the people of Cuba. “The WCC 11th Assembly called for the removal of Cuba from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism,” said Pillay. “We at the WCC will continue to accompany the churches as prophetic voices of peace, hope, cooperation, and mutual respect.”  Pillay, in his first visit to Cuba as WCC general secretary, also expressed appreciation for religious freedom in Cuba, in particular meeting with foreign affairs minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla to talk about the positive relationships between the WCC and religious organizations in Cuba.  “We met with our member church, the Presbyterian Church in Cuba and a large number of other churches that are part of the Cuban Council of Churches,” said Pillay. “I saw a huge statue of the Christ overlooking the city which is most unusual in a place accused of restricting religious freedom. The churches in Cuba confirmed their freedom to worship and exercise their faith and beliefs.” Earlier in the week, Pillay gave a sermon at the Presbyterian Reformed Church of Cuba, which is the first Protestant church in Havana, and a founding church of the Cuban Council of Churches. He also met with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez and delivered a lecture at Havana University. WCC general secretary will visit Cuba to voice support for churches, communities (WCC news release, 16 December 2023) WCC voices support of UN resolution condemning ongoing blockade imposed on Cuba (WCC news release, 2 November 2023) See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland