The EWTN News portal reports on the dire humanitarian situation in Cuba, as described by Bishop Marcelo González Amador, president of the Cuban Bishops’ Conference. The prelate recounts extreme deprivation, with people fainting from hunger in parishes, hospitals lacking water for surgeries, and a pervasive sense of hopelessness. While the article highlights the Church’s charitable efforts, such as soup kitchens and aid distribution, it omits any mention of the spiritual roots of the crisis or the ultimate solution: the Social Reign of Christ the King.
A Nation in Agony: The Fruits of Godless Rule
The suffering described by Bishop González Amador is undeniable and heartbreaking. People fainting from hunger, hospitals without water for surgeries, and a pervasive sense of hopelessness – these are the bitter fruits of decades of communist rule, a system inherently opposed to God and His laws. As Pope Pius XI taught in his encyclical Quas Primas, “the hope of lasting peace will not yet shine upon nations as long as individuals and states renounce and do not wish to recognize the reign of our Savior.” Cuba’s plight is a stark illustration of this truth. The communist regime, by its very nature, seeks to eradicate faith, suppress the Church, and impose a materialistic ideology that reduces man to a mere economic unit, devoid of spiritual purpose.
The Church’s Charitable Mission: A Band-Aid on a Hemorrhage
The article highlights the Church’s efforts to alleviate suffering through soup kitchens and aid distribution. While these acts of charity are commendable in themselves, they address only the temporal symptoms of a profound spiritual and social disease. Bishop González Amador notes that “the Church strives to ‘keep the spirit alive, offer hope where there is none, listen, and provide accompaniment.'” This is a noble sentiment, but it remains incomplete without the explicit proclamation of the only true hope: Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.
The Church’s mission is not merely to provide “pastoral maintenance” or to keep spirits alive in a temporal sense. Her primary mission is to lead souls to eternal salvation, which necessitates the establishment of Christ’s reign in all aspects of society. As Pope Pius XI further explained in Quas Primas, “if men were ever to recognize Christ’s royal authority over themselves, both privately and publicly, then unheard-of blessings would flow upon the whole society, such as due freedom, order, and tranquility, and concord and peace.” The article’s focus on immediate relief, while necessary, risks reducing the Church to a mere humanitarian agency, akin to any secular organization, rather than the divinely instituted guide for all of human life.
The Eucharist Under Siege: A Spiritual Famine
Bishop González Amador laments that “the lack of electricity put an end to overnight Eucharistic adoration.” This is a profound spiritual tragedy, far exceeding the temporal hardships. The Most Blessed Sacrament is the source and summit of the Christian life, the true Presence of Christ among His people. To deprive the faithful of Eucharistic adoration is to inflict a spiritual famine, a starvation of the soul that no amount of material aid can remedy.
The article mentions that “priests are often unable to celebrate Mass in rural villages and hamlets due to a lack of resources.” This is a grave sacrilege against the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which is the re-presentation of Calvary and the most perfect act of worship. The inability to offer the Holy Mass leaves souls without the graces necessary for salvation, making the physical hunger a secondary concern compared to the spiritual starvation. The Church must prioritize the celebration of the Most Holy Sacrifice above all else, for it is through the Mass that the faithful receive the Bread of Life and the graces to endure all trials.
The Root Cause: Rejection of Christ the King
The article explicitly mentions the “U.S. fuel embargo” and “deteriorating infrastructure” as exacerbating factors. While these are undoubtedly significant, they are proximate causes. The ultimate root cause of Cuba’s suffering is the nation’s official embrace of atheistic communism, a system that explicitly rejects God, His laws, and the Social Reign of Christ the King. As Pope Pius IX condemned in the Syllabus of Errors, “The teaching of the Catholic Church is hostile to the well-being and interests of society” (Proposition 40) and “The State, as being the origin and source of all rights, is endowed with a certain right not circumscribed by any limits” (Proposition 39). These propositions perfectly describe the communist state, which claims absolute authority over its citizens, denying God’s sovereignty.
The “fear of war” mentioned by the bishop is a direct consequence of this godless ideology, which thrives on conflict and division. True peace, as Pope Pius XI taught, “is only possible in the kingdom of Christ.” Without a return to God, without the public acknowledgment of Christ’s kingship, no amount of humanitarian aid or political maneuvering can bring lasting peace or prosperity.
The Church’s Prophetic Voice: Silenced or Compromised?
While Bishop González Amador expresses anguish, the article, and by extension the “Church” he represents, fails to explicitly condemn the communist regime’s inherent errors and its opposition to the Faith. The “Church” in Cuba, as part of the post-conciliar structures, often operates within a framework of “dialogue” and “accompaniment” that can obscure the fundamental incompatibility of communism with Catholic doctrine. The call for “hope” and “accompaniment” risks becoming a passive acceptance of an unjust system rather than a prophetic call for conversion and the establishment of God’s order.
The article mentions Caritas Cuba distributing aid, which is a positive temporal action. However, the true charity of the Church is not merely to feed the body, but to save the soul. This requires an uncompromising proclamation of the Gospel, including the errors of communism and the necessity of Christ’s Social Kingship. Without this, the Church’s witness is weakened, and her mission is reduced to that of a social worker, rather than the Mother and Teacher of nations.
Conclusion: The Imperative of Christ’s Reign
The suffering of the Cuban people is a stark reminder of the consequences of rejecting God and His laws. While the Church’s charitable efforts are a testament to Christian love, they are insufficient without the full proclamation of the Gospel, including the Social Reign of Christ the King. The “most difficult and saddest moment” will persist until Cuba, and all nations, acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and King, ordering their laws, customs, and public life according to His divine precepts. Only then will true peace, justice, and prosperity be found. The Church must not merely offer “hope” in a vague sense, but must explicitly point to the only source of true hope: Our Lord Jesus Christ, whose kingdom shall have no end.
Source:
Cubans are coming to parishes saying they haven’t eaten in days, bishop laments (ewtnnews.com)
Date: 27.05.2026