By Archbishop Thomas Wenski - The Archdiocese of Miami
Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski issued the following statement July 26, upon learning the news that Cardinal Jaime Ortega, archbishop emeritus of Havana, had died.
Coincidentally, Archbishop Wenski had traveled to Cuba July 13 to participate in the installation of Bishop Juan de Dios Hernández as ordinary of the Diocese of Pinar del Río. Upon arriving in Havana the evening of July 12, Archbishop Wenski concelebrated a Mass with Havana Archbishop Juan García at the bedside of Cardinal Ortega, who, as Archbishop Wenski put it, was "preparing to transition into Eternal Life."
Here is Archbishop Wenski's statement:
“Cardinal Ortega, Havana's retired archbishop, was an important, and at the same time, controversial man of the Church, who played a critical role in gaining 'more spaces' so that the Catholic Church in Cuba could exercise her mission of evangelization within a Marxist nation. He was key to receiving the visit of three popes and negotiating the freedom of political prisoners. May he rest in peace."
