Havana, Cuba, Apr 18, 2006 / 22:00 pm
The Catholic Press Union in Cuba has published the third edition of the magazine Verdad y Esperanza in order to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the National Cuban Ecclesial Encounter (NCEE) and to highlight the challenges that the Church faces today.
The first edition of the magazine was published in 1998 on the occasion of Pope John Paul II‘s visit. Five years later the second edition was published, featuring articles from diverse Catholic publications in Cuba.
The 72-page third edition is dedicated entirely to the NCEE, an historic event which took place February 17-23, 1986.
Father Antonio Rodriguez, one of the contributors to the new edition, said the magazine is important because “a large number of the Catholic faithful today, including people involved in ministry—both Cubans and foreigners—do not know the letter, and therefore, the spirit of the NCEE.”
Father Jose Conrado Rodriguez, another contributor, said the NCEE continues to be relevant because it highlights questions and problems that are still unresolved.
The magazine also features interviews with important leaders from the laity and the clergy in Cuba, as well as a transcript of a talk given by Auxiliary Bishop Felipe de Jesus Estevez of Miami, a letter sent by Pope John Paul II through the late Cardinal Eduardo Pironio, the inaugural address of then-president of the Bishops’ Conference of Spain, Bishop Adolfo Rodriguez, and the final statement of the NCEE and a pastoral instruction published by the bishops.
The editors of the magazine also noted the new edition leaves room to discuss to the challenges of the present and the future for the Church in Cuba, such as the role of the laity, Catholic media, and national reconciliation.