Holy See expresses satisfaction over church-brokered Cuban prisoners' release

(July 10, 2010) The news of the Cuban government making good its promise to release 53 political prisoners and the end of a hunger strike by an activist in their support has been received with satisfaction by the Holy See. "This is good news that we had been expecting from the Caribbean island for some weeks,” Holy See’s spokesman, Fr. Federico Lombardi said on Saturday. “They are significant signs that we hope will point to a steady progress towards a climate of renewed social and political coexistence that we all wish for the Cuban nation,” he added. Cuba took the first steps toward releasing 52 political prisoners as the island's Catholic Church on Thursday notified five would be freed soon in a deal struck with the Cuban government. The planned release prompted dissident Guillermo Farinas to end his 4-1/2-month-long hunger strike. Under a Wednesday agreement brokered by visiting Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, authorities promised to free five political prisoners as soon as possible and force them to head to Spain - then release 47 more in the next two or three months. In this breakthrough, Vatican Spokesman Fr. Lombardi particularly singled out the role of Cardinal Ortega Alamino Archbishop of Havana and Archbishop Dionisio García of Santiago de Cuba for their crucial role in the process of dialogue, saying the Catholic Church is deeply rooted among the people and is a trusted interpreter of their spirit and hopes.