About Cuba:
Formerly a Spanish colony, Cuban independence was secured in 1898 following the Spanish-American War, ending over 300 years of Spanish rule, with formal sovereignty granted in 1902. Relations with the U.S. remained strong through the first half of the 20th century.
A short 90 to 94 miles south of Key West, Florida, Havana was a popular destination for gamblers. In addition, baseball fans may remember the old “International League”: a minor baseball league (one step below the majors) including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Bisons and the Havana Sugar Canes among others. The league still exists today, but in modified form….and without Havana. Baseball (locally known as pelota) remains exceptionally popular in Cuba today and is considered the nation’s premier sport and a vital part of its cultural identity. Interestingly, Basque pelota (jai alai) also exists on the island, although baseball clearly dominates.
A revolution Led by Fidel Castro’s “26th of July Movement” and allied groups, an armed guerrilla struggle (1953–1959) aimed to topple the U.S.-backed authoritarian (and sometimes brutal) regime of Fulgencio Batista. Following a series of military defeats, including the pivotal Battle of Santa Clara led by Che Guevara in late December 1958, Batista fled Cuba for the Dominican Republic in the early hours of January 1, 1959, and eventually died in Spain in 1973.
Fidel Castro arrived in Havana on January 8, 1959, to take charge of the new provisional government, rapidly consolidating control.
The U.S. still occupies a U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay, established in 1898 during the Spanish–American War. In 1903, the United States and Cuba signed a lease granting the United States permission to use the land as a coaling and naval station. The lease is indefinite, with no fixed expiration date, and can only be terminated by mutual agreement between the U.S. and Cuba, or if the U.S. abandons the base.
Once Fidel Castro took power, he exiled the Archbishop and several hundred Spanish priests, and Catholics were discriminated against in employment and education. The 300,000 exiles who fled the country also lessened the number of Catholics, although the Church estimates that about 70% (around 6-7 million people) of the Cuban population today is Catholic. Catholicism remains the largest religious denomination on the island. Other sources indicate variations, with some data suggesting closer to 46-50% in practice, as church membership and active, daily practice can differ.
Relations improved somewhat after Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1998, and there are ongoing efforts for dialogue amid recent challenges. Cuba has three archdioceses (Havana, Camagüey, and Santiago de Cuba) and several dioceses, with about 11 cathedrals total and numerous parishes/churches across the island.
Of special note: Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American, whose parents left Cuba for economic reasons in 1956, was elected Senator from Florida and later became Secretary of State in the U.S. Our guess is that he takes a keen interest in Cuba-U.S. relations, and perhaps will be a factor in any diplomatic overtures to those hoping for freedom.
Some notable Catholic Shrines and Places of Interest in Cuba:
The Catholic Church has a long history in Cuba, dating back to the early 1500’s with Spanish colonization (Christopher Columbus planted a cross there on December 1, 1492).
Baracoa: Sacred Cross of Parra (cross planted by Christopher Columbus in 1492) in Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción.
Camaguey: Several churches in this beautiful city.
Cienfuegos: Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. A beautiful neoclassical structure from the 1830s with twin bell towers.
Havana: Several Catholic places of interest.
Sandino: Sacred Heart of Jesus Church (first new church built since the Communist revolution).
Santiago de Cuba: Basilica of Our Lady of Charity (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre): Cuba’s most important shrine and minor basilica. It’s dedicated to the patroness of Cuba (Our Lady of Charity), a revered Marian devotion blending Catholic and cultural elements.
Traveling to Cuba:
Long a bastion of Communism, the island nation has received visitors from countries throughout the world with one notable exception, and that is the United States. That has recently changed, however, and relaxed travel restrictions means that it is now possible for those who are U.S. citizens to travel here without the necessity of going to Canada or Mexico first, as had been the case in the past. There are still certain restrictions: you must be part of a cultural exchange group, but that is not a big obstacle since several private tour operators put such groups together with the express purpose of allowing U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba.
The U.S. embargo had been severely criticized by the Bishops of Cuba as being counter-productive and hurting the poor. Most recently there has been some relaxation of the restrictions on Catholics within Cuba. Time will tell whether relaxation of these restrictions will improve the lot of the common people.
Certainly the news that Pope Benedict XVI visited the country in the spring of 2012 was an encouraging sign, and with Pope Francis having visited in 2015, we hope for better relations
In April 2018 Miguel Díaz-Canel succeeded Raúl Castro as Cuba’s leader, taking over as President and subsequently as First Secretary of the Communist Party in April 2021. Handpicked by Castro, Díaz-Canel is the first non-Castro leader since 1959, aiming for political continuity. Díaz-Canel is navigating a severe energy, economic, and humanitarian crisis in Cuba.
On March 13, 2026, Díaz-Canel confirmed that his government is in early-stage talks with the Trump administration to find solutions to bilateral differences.
Nonetheless, it is still a Communist dictatorship, with a poor human rights record, so we encourage visitors to be aware of that and conduct yourselves accordingly.