Pope welcomes new ambassador of Cuba

December 23, 2013 - Pope Francis on Monday welcomed to the Vatican Cuba new ambassador to the Holy See, Rodney Alejandro López Clemente. At a formal ceremony in the Vatican, the 67 year old father of two presented his credentials to the Pontiff at the start of his mission with the Holy See. Besides holding numerous government and diplomatic posts, Lopez has been ambassador to Germany, the United Kingdom, the United Nations and Italy. The Holy See and Cuba established diplomatic relations in 1935, and today some 60% of the Caribbean nation’s over 11 million people are considered to be Catholics.