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Cardinal Ortega, former archbishop of Havana, dies at 82
Andrea Rodriguez and Peter Orsi, Associated Press
Updated 1:58 pm CDT, Friday, July 26, 2019
HAVANA (AP) — Cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino, a sugar worker's son who oversaw the first papal visit to Cuba, helped lower barriers to believers in the communist country and played a role in mediating improved U.S.-Cuba ties, died Friday at age 82.
His death was announced by his successor, Havana Archbishop Juan de la Caridad García Rodriguez.
Ortega helped open a dialogue between Havana and the U.S. that led the two countries to resume relations in 2014, after presidents Raúl Castro and Barack Obama secretly turned to Pope Francis for help. He served as a messenger for both sides, carrying secret letters and responses that helped thaw relations.
He also helped drive a gradual but significant thaw in relations with a government that was officially atheist and long barred religious believers from Communist Party ranks.
"His contribution to the strengthening of relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the Cuban State is undeniable," Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said while offering his condolences via Twitter.
More:
https://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Cardinal-Ortega-former-archbishop-of-Havana-14175161.php