Dive Brief:
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Cuba will allow the construction of its first Catholic church in 56 years, the bishop of Pinar del Río, Jorge Enrique Serpa Pérez, told media last week.
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Although 60% of the country’s population is Catholic, members of the church have been persecuted since 1959, when the government restricted religious practice following the Communist revolution there. After Pope John Paul II visited the island in 1998, relations with the Vatican eased. The Vatican has said requests for church construction began to win approval just this year.
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The first new church will be built in the remote fishing town of Sandino, located in Cuba’s most western area.
Dive Insight:
The thawing of relations between Cuba and the Vatican led to the negotiations that resulted in President Barack Obama’s decision to restore U.S. diplomatic relations with the island.
Pope Francis worked with Obama and Cuban President Rául Castro to help broker a reconciliation between the two countries after 50 years of tensions. The deal is expected to spur construction on the island and in south Florida.