“Thank you very much for being with us; thank you very much for accompanying us; thank you very much for the message of peace and deep faith with which you accompany us,” said Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, as he welcomed the ecumenical delegation. The head of state described the blockade as “a violation of the human rights of Cubans,” as an act of “depriving a people who are generous, hardworking, and supportive of the most basic things needed to live their lives in peace.” Díaz-Canel Bermúdez told the ecumenical leaders: “We ask you to demonstrate this reality, to tell this reality; and to the leaders of our churches, to continue developing the community initiatives with which you have always supported us, and also to become involved in all the community-level movement we are shaping, because you have great experience in community work, popular education, and all these things that are extremely important at this moment.” Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, said he is aware that Cubans “are living through difficult times.” He added: “I come with senior religious leaders. They are general secretaries of well-established churches around the world, representing millions of people globally. We are here to celebrate the beginning of Holy Week with you. We are joining you in solidarity. We will join the voices of people of faith to say that what is being done to you is wrong. Our presence, and that of such a high-level delegation, shows that we are here to offer our support and to tell the people of Cuba that they are not alone.” Joel Ortega Dopico, president of the Cuban Council of Churches, expressed that the visit is a source of “healthy pride for the Cuban ecumenical movement,” and part of many years of work. Dopico stated that this visit marks the beginning of a stage in which the global ecumenical movement and the Cuban ecumenical movement will work more closely together. Besides Pillay, the delegation consists of Rev. Philip Vinod Peacock, general secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches; Rev. Jihyun Oh, stated clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and executive director of Presbyterian Life & Witness; Rev. Jimmie R. Hawkins, director of advocacy in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); Rt. Rev. Anthony Poggo, secretary-general of the Anglican Communion; Rev. Michael Blair, general secretary of the United Church of Canada; and Rev. Dr Reynaldo Ferreira Leao Neto, general secretary of the World Methodist Council. The encounter concluded with a prayer in which the ecumenical delegation prayed for Cuba, for the resilience and hope of its people, and also for its leaders at this moment filled with so many challenges and defining decisions. International ecumenical delegation concludes visit to Cuba (WCC news release, 31 March 2026) “Cuba offers a prophetic witness to the global church,” says WCC general secretary (WCC news release, 30 March 2026) Ecumenical delegation to visit Cuba as humanitarian crisis deepens (WCC news release, 27 March 2026) Photo gallery | 
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