WCC news: “Cuba offers a prophetic witness to the global church,” says WCC general secretary

“Our presence among you is a reminder that you are not alone,” said World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay during an ecumenical service held at the Episcopal Cathedral of Havana on 29 March.  Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay, General Secretary of the WCC, delivers his sermon during the ecumenical service in Havana on 29 March. Photo: Panchito González/Prensa Latina 30 March 2026 The service took place during a visit by global ecumenical leaders expressing solidarity with the Cuban people amid ongoing internal and external challenges. In his address, Pillay pointed to the global context of conflict and instability, noting that “a simple look at what is happening in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Colombia, Iran, and many other parts of the world shows that thousands are dying, and no one seems able to stop these senseless killings.”  He underscored the failure of political leadership to halt violence and raised concerns about the erosion of respect for international law, state sovereignty, human dignity, and the sanctity of life. Pillay further warned that reliance on war, violence, and military force as instruments of peace continues to undermine global stability and reiterated the longstanding position of ecumenical organizations that dialogue, rather than violence, remains the only viable path toward lasting peace. Reflecting on current global realities, Pillay described a world marked by diminishing hope, widespread suffering, and deepening poverty. Within this context, he highlighted Cuba’s resilience as offering a meaningful perspective on the hope of the resurrection. “In Cuba, daily life is shaped by economic hardship, shortages of essential goods, limited opportunities, and uncertainty about the future,” he said. “Yet the church lives not in abundance, but in faith; not in security, but in trust. The hope of the resurrection emerges not from favorable circumstances, but from encounter with the living Christ.” Drawing on the biblical example of Martha, Pillay noted that Cuban Christians embody a lived experience of waiting, struggle, and questioning, while maintaining hope. He also acknowledged the social and economic pressures facing the country, commending the church’s continued commitment to accompaniment and solidarity with the people. “Cuba offers a prophetic witness to the global church,” Pillay stated. “It reminds us that hope does not depend on abundance, faith does not require certainty, and resurrection does not wait for perfect conditions. Rather, it is revealed in the midst of scarcity, struggle, and adversity.” He concluded by posing a broader challenge to the international community: whether belief in the resurrection is limited to times of comfort, or whether it extends to the most difficult realities. “If Christ has been raised in Cuba, then Christ has been raised everywhere,” he affirmed. Among those in attendance were Salvador Valdés Mesa, member of the Political Bureau and vice president of the Republic; Yuniaski Crespo Baquero, head of the Ideological Department of the Central Committee; and other party and government representatives. The service reaffirmed international ecumenical accompaniment with Cuba and its churches in challenging times and underscored a shared commitment to continued work for service, justice, and peace. Photo gallery Ecumenical delegation to visit Cuba as humanitarian crisis deepens (WCC news release, 27 March 2026) See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland