Pope Francis: His devotion to Our Lady of Charity of Cobre and her key role in Cuba-United States relations

The death of Pope Francis, confirmed this lunes by the Vatican, moved the Catholic world. But in Cuba, his figure had a special dimension, marked by the devotion to Our Lady of Charity of Cobre and by his direct influence on one of the most important moments in the island's recent history: the reestablishment of relations with the United States.

A visit full of symbols

In September 2015, during his first apostolic trip to Cuba, Francis arrived at the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre in Santiago. There, he prayed in silence for several minutes before the statue of Cuba's patron saint and placed a bouquet of white flowers at her feet. It was one of the most moving moments of the trip, broadcast live on state television.

"She safeguards the identity of the Cuban people," the pontiff said, highlighting the Virgin's spiritual strength as a symbol of unity for believers and nonbelievers alike.

The silent mediation that helped the thaw

That same year, in December 2014, then-President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro announced the reestablishment of diplomatic relations. Both publicly acknowledged Pope Francis's role in the mediation. The Vatican had hosted secret meetings between delegations from both governments, and the Pope wrote personal letters to the leaders to encourage dialogue.

The pontiff's participation was key to resolving years of tension. Francis not only facilitated rapprochement, but also granted it a moral legitimacy that influenced even reticent sectors within the United States and Cuba.

A change of focus towards the island

Obama's policy focused on rapprochement as a way to promote change in Cuba, breaking with decades of confrontation. This openness facilitated increased family travel, remittances, cultural and academic visits, and a climate of greater economic openness.

In this context, Pope Francis accompanied the process with an approach centered on dialogue. He avoided direct confrontation with the Cuban regime, but strengthened the role of the Church in public life. During his pontificate, the scope of action for Catholic communities on the island expanded, including social and charitable activities.

The Pope Who Did Not Judge

In his speeches, Francis spoke of reconciliation, human dignity, and social justice, without making overt political pronouncements. At the Mass celebrated in Havana's Plaza de la Revolución, he called for "serving people, not serving oneself," a phrase that many interpreted as an indirect criticism of the established powers.

His style was distinct from that of other religious leaders. He preferred to accompany Cubans in their daily lives rather than condemn from a distance. For many, this gesture of closeness had more impact than any public statement.

Reactions from Cuba

The news of his death has generated a wave of messages on social media from the island. Many emotionally recall his visit to the Santuario del Cobre, his mass in the Plaza de la Revolución, or his encounters with Cuban youth and families.

“He was the pope who treated us as a people, not as a political figure,” wrote one user from Santiago. Another woman commented: “I was at the Cobre Mass. I'd never felt anything like that. It wasn't just faith, it was hope.”

Francis was the third pope to visit Cuba, but the first to do so in such an influential diplomatic role. Today, his legacy on the island is remembered with respect, not only for what he accomplished from Rome, but for what he sowed on Cuban soil.