Cuban authorities have reached out to the Vatican, seeking its support to help the nation stay in power and secure aid amid a significant energy crisis. This crisis, which has resulted in rolling blackouts, began in late January following a U.S. presidential order that labeled Cuba as an “unusual and extraordinary threat,” alongside tariffs on any nations providing oil to the island.
In the two months following this unofficial oil blockade, Cuban officials have engaged in high-level discussions with representatives from the Holy See, including the Pope, hoping these meetings could act as a bridge between Cuba and the United States. This was reported by a well-known newspaper.
On February 20, Mike Hammer, a senior diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, and Brian Birch, the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, met with Latin American ambassadors there. They talked about collaborating with the church to advance the aspirations of the Cuban people for economic opportunities and freedoms. American diplomats have also reportedly conferred with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.
Hammer indicated to the Latin American Church diplomats that the Cuban regime could collapse “within days,” according to sources. Additionally, Hammer and Birch met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State. A knowledgeable individual mentioned that the Vatican is looking for a resolution that would be “less traumatic” than the arrest of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro during the Trump administration.
A spokesperson from the State Department clarified that Cuba’s fuel issues are not due to new U.S. regulations, as humanitarian organizations, including church groups, can import fuel into the country, provided it doesn’t involve regime-related entities. Instead, the ministry attributes the fuel crisis to Cuba losing financial support from Nicolás Maduro’s illegal Venezuelan operations.
According to another source familiar with the discussions, “The administration has no intention of letting the Vatican dictate Cuba policy.” They added, “If the Cuban government makes adjustments that might relieve them, we aren’t too concerned about the outcome since they’re essentially self-destructing. Ultimately, we believe we will get what we want.”
The State Department also noted that the Catholic Church plays a “vital role” for Cubans, having previously collaborated with the State Department on various diplomatic aspects, including distributing $9 million in U.S.-sourced disaster relief and advocating for the freedom of prisoners of conscience.
Though aid is reaching Cuba, the church reportedly has resorted to using donkeys to deliver food, as a shortage of oil has grounded delivery trucks, according to sources familiar with the situation. Additionally, Cuba has announced the release of 51 prisoners of war as a goodwill gesture toward the Vatican, seeking guidance on how far they need to go with concessions to alleviate pressures from President Trump’s campaign.
Cuba seems to think that Pope Leo, who was born in Chicago, might be pivotal in this situation. The State Department emphasized that Cuba’s grave circumstances stem from the regime’s incompetence and failures, stating, “For decades, the regime has been unable to create an effective economic system that benefits the Cuban people, stifling growth and prosperity to maintain complete control over the island.”
