Grace Thompson
Cuba has a long and complex religious history, with the country's religious landscape being influenced by its colonization, the slave trade, and the Communist regime. While Catholicism has historically been the majority religion in Cuba, the number of practicing Catholics has fluctuated over time due to various social, political, and economic factors. The syncretic religion Santería, which blends elements of Catholicism, Christianity, and West African beliefs, is also widely practiced in Cuba, with an estimated 80 to 90 percent of Cubans consulting with Santería priests. The relationship between the Catholic Church and the Cuban government has been strained, with the Church's property being nationalized under Fidel Castro, and restrictions placed on religious activities and celebrations. Despite these challenges, Catholicism remains a significant presence in Cuba, with estimates suggesting that more than half of the population identifies as Catholic, although attendance at Mass is low.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Cubans who are practising Catholics | 50% or more |
| Percentage of Cubans who consult with Santería priests | 80-90% |
| Percentage of Cubans who identify as Protestants | 5% |
| The patron saint of Cuba | Virgin del Cobre (Our Lady of Charity) |
| The Catholic Church's stance on members joining the Communist Party of Cuba | Not allowed until 1990 |
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What You'll Learn
- Santería, a blend of Catholicism and West African beliefs, is the most widely practised religion in Cuba
- The Catholic Church was nationalised under Fidel Castro, who imposed restrictions on religious activities
- Catholicism has been associated with oppressive Spanish rule in Cuba since the country's colonisation
- The Cuban Communist Party regulates religious institutions and the practice of religion through the ORA
- Pope John Paul II visited Cuba in 1998, followed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012 and Pope Francis in 2015
Santería, a blend of Catholicism and West African beliefs, is the most widely practised religion in Cuba
Santería is an Afro-Caribbean religion, and more specifically an Afro-Cuban religion. It developed in Cuba during the late 19th century, emerging from the syncretism between the traditional Yoruba religion of West Africa, Catholicism, and Spiritism. The Yoruba people, one of the African peoples imported to Cuba during the 16th through 19th centuries to work on sugar plantations, blended their traditional religions with Roman Catholicism—the only religion legally permitted on the island by the Spanish colonial government. This allowed the slaves to retain their traditional beliefs while appearing to practice Catholicism.
In Santería, the Yoruba goddess Ochún is syncretized with the Catholic figure La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre (Our Lady of Charity), the patron saint of Cuba. Santería practitioners often consider themselves to be Roman Catholics, and some priests and priestesses of Santería will not initiate anyone who is not a baptised Roman Catholic. However, Santería is not recognized by the Catholic Church, which has historically had an awkward relationship with such syncretic religions.
Santería is primarily practised in Cuba's La Habana and Matanzas provinces, particularly among working-class Afro-Cuban communities, although communities exist across the island and abroad, especially among the Cuban diasporas of Mexico and the United States. The number of initiates is estimated to be in the high hundreds of thousands, serving as diviners and healers for a much larger range of adherents of varying levels of fidelity, making the precise numbers of those involved in Santería difficult to determine.
Although Santería is the most popular religion in Cuba after Catholicism, it is still targeted by the government. Minority religious groups face restrictions imposed on their religion by the Cuban Communist Party, making it difficult for practitioners to exercise their religious freedom.
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The Catholic Church was nationalised under Fidel Castro, who imposed restrictions on religious activities
Fidel Castro, who was baptised as a Roman Catholic and educated by Jesuits, became a persecutor of the Catholic Church after seizing power in Cuba in 1959. He nationalised the Catholic Church's property, muzzled Church publications, expelled many priests, and barred Church personnel from joining the Communist Party of Cuba. These actions were driven by his view of the Church as an enemy of the revolution, due to its denunciation of communism and the clergy's opposition to it.
Castro's government followed a communist tradition of Marxist-Leninist atheism, and as a result, Cuba was officially atheist from the 1960s until 1992. During this period, practicing Catholics were restricted from becoming members of the Communist Party, impacting their ability to work for the government. Additionally, attending Mass was seen as an act of subversion, and restrictions were imposed on religious activities, including Christmas celebrations.
Despite these restrictions, more than half of Cubans still consider themselves Catholic. However, even those who identify as Catholic do not regularly attend Mass or demonstrate outward signs of their faith. This may be due to the historical association of Catholicism with oppressive Spanish rule in Cuba, as well as the restrictions imposed by the Castro government.
In the early 1990s, facing an economic crisis after the loss of Soviet financial backing, Castro began to loosen restrictions on religious freedom. He allowed church-going Catholics to join the Communist Party and took steps toward recognising the Catholic Church's presence in Cuba, meeting with bishops and allowing freedom of worship. In 1998, Pope John Paul II made a historic visit to Cuba, marking a significant breakthrough in the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Cuban government.
Castro's relationship with the Catholic Church and his personal faith remained complex and somewhat mysterious throughout his life. While he was raised Catholic and displayed reverence toward the Pope, he also criticised elements of the Bible and maintained a suspicion of Catholicism as a rival political force.
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Catholicism has been associated with oppressive Spanish rule in Cuba since the country's colonisation
Catholicism has been the majority religion in Cuba since the country's colonisation by Spain, who forced the indigenous people to convert. As a result, Cuban culture associates Catholicism with oppressive Spanish rule.
When the Spanish arrived in Cuba, they forced the indigenous people to convert to Catholicism. The Spanish colonial authorities neglected Cuba, and the local church became a "dumping ground for miscreant clerics". Despite this, the church became the main agency of welfare and education on the island, mediated conflicts, and contributed to founding a Cuban national identity.
After the 1959 revolution, Cuba officially embraced atheism. Fidel Castro's government was officially atheist from the 1960s until 1992. Castro reduced the Church's ability to operate by deporting the archbishop and 150 Spanish priests, discriminating against Catholics in public life and education, and refusing to accept them as members of the Communist Party. He also nationalised the Catholic Church's property and shut down Catholic-aligned radio and television programmes. The seizure of Catholic Church properties in Cuba included the decapitation of a statue of Santo Tomás de Villanueva outside a chapel at Havana University, which was turned into a trade school. The headless statue became a symbol of a church shorn of influence.
Despite the oppression of the Catholic Church under Castro, more than half of Cubans still consider themselves Catholic. However, even those who identify as Catholic do not regularly attend Mass. Many Cubans believe equally in the powers of Santería and the Catholic Church and do not see a contradiction between the two belief systems. Santería developed out of the traditions of the Yoruba, one of the African peoples who were brought to Cuba during the 16th to 19th centuries to work on sugar plantations. It blends elements of Christianity and West African beliefs, allowing slaves to retain their traditional beliefs while appearing to practise Catholicism.
In recent years, the Cuban government's stance on religion has begun to shift. In 1998, Pope John Paul II visited Cuba and persuaded Castro to reinstate Good Friday as an official holiday. Pope Benedict XVI visited in 2012, and Pope Francis in 2015. The latter's visit inspired a renewed enthusiasm for Catholicism. In 2015, Raúl Castro indicated that he might return to being a practising Catholic and would attend Mass when the Pope visited Cuba.
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The Cuban Communist Party regulates religious institutions and the practice of religion through the ORA
Cuba has a long and complex history of religious regulation and suppression. Since the arrival of the Spanish, who forced the indigenous people to convert to Catholicism, Cuban culture has associated Catholicism with oppressive rule. During the Communist Revolution, Fidel Castro imposed further restrictions on religious activities, declaring the nation atheist and stating that religious activity was antithetical to the Communist agenda.
However, in 1991, the Communist Party lifted its prohibition against religious believers, and the following year, the country was declared secular in the constitution. The constitution now provides for freedom of religion and prohibits discrimination based on religion, stating that "different beliefs and religions enjoy the same considerations under the law."
Despite these provisions, the Cuban Communist Party (CCP) continues to regulate religious institutions and the practice of religion through the Office of Religious Affairs (ORA). All religious groups in the country are required to register with the ORA and the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). The application process requires groups to identify their activities, leadership, and funding sources, among other requirements. Even once registered, religious groups must request permission from the ORA to conduct activities beyond their regular services, such as holding meetings, publishing decisions, receiving foreign visitors, or importing literature.
The government has been accused of harassing religious leaders and their followers, with reports of threats, detentions, confiscation of religious materials, and restrictions on travel. In addition, several religious groups have reported that a lack of legal registration has impeded their ability to practice their religion. The ORA has also been implicated in the expulsion of religious leaders who are critical of the government, such as Father Pantaleón, who was expelled for his support of political prisoners and the Jesuit's critical position towards the regime.
While the Cuban government has made some strides towards improving religious freedom, such as issuing permits for new churches and allowing the construction of a Russian Orthodox Church, the ability for Cubans to practice their religion freely is still limited. The ORA's regulation of religious institutions and practices remains a significant factor in this, highlighting the ongoing tension between religious freedom and state control in Cuba.
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Pope John Paul II visited Cuba in 1998, followed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012 and Pope Francis in 2015
In January 1998, Pope John Paul II, an anti-communist, made a historic visit to Cuba, becoming the first pope to visit the country. He was invited by the Cuban government and the Catholic Church in Cuba. During his visit, he delivered a sermon at a public mass, focusing on anti-capitalist themes and emphasizing what he believed was the Christian soul of Cuba. Notably, former Cuban leader Fidel Castro was present during the sermon, standing front and center and even nodding along at some points. This visit held significant meaning, given the complicated history between Cuba and the Catholic Church.
In March 2012, Pope Benedict XVI visited Cuba, marking his third visit to the Americas and the final visit of his papacy to the region. He met with Cuban President Raul Castro, bishops, and Catholics from the region. Pope Benedict XVI celebrated three outdoor Masses, including one commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre, the patroness of Cuba. This visit coincided with a shift in the stance of the Cuban Communist Party, as indicated by Raul Castro's comments during a 2015 televised news conference. He acknowledged the party's changing attitude towards believers and his consideration of returning to the Catholic faith.
Pope Francis visited Cuba in 2015, participating in the Eighth World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia in September. This visit continued to showcase the evolving relationship between the Catholic Church and the Cuban government, marking a significant step forward in religious freedom.
While the exact number of practising Catholics in Cuba is unknown, the visits by the Popes and the shift in government policy indicate a significant Catholic presence in the country. Additionally, the celebration of religious festivals, such as "La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre" on 8 September, and the syncretism of Catholicism with Santería, a religion with West African roots, further highlight the influence of Catholicism in Cuba.
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Frequently asked questions
It is estimated that more than half of Cubans identify as Catholic, but this does not necessarily translate to regular Mass attendance.
Catholicism has been the majority religion in Cuba since its colonisation. Although Fidel Castro imposed restrictions on religious activities, Cubans continued to identify as Catholic. Many Cubans also practice Santería, a syncretic religion that blends elements of Catholicism and West African beliefs.
Santería, also known as the Order of Lucumi or Orisha worship, is a religion with roots in West Africa that was brought to Cuba by Yoruba slaves during the 16th to 19th centuries. It is often syncretised with Catholicism and is the most widely practised religion in Cuba.
The Cuban government has historically been hostile to religion, particularly under Fidel Castro's regime, which nationalised Church property and barred Catholics from joining the Communist Party. However, restrictions have eased in recent years, and the current leader, Raúl Castro, has indicated a growing tolerance for religion.
