[Over the course of two decades, Senator Leahy and Cardinal Ortega became close friends and partners in the negotiations that ultimately led to the restoration of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba].
I will never forget my very first meeting with Cardinal Ortega in Havana, because Marcelle and I recognized immediately that this was a man of the highest integrity, of immeasurable devotion to the humanitarian mission of the Catholic Church and to his country, and of unwavering determination to improve the lives of the Cuban people.
Cardinal Ortega and I met many times, and I valued enormously his friendship and guidance. I asked Cardinal Ortega to seek Pope Francis’ support for reconciliation between the United States and Cuba. It was Cardinal Ortega who hand-delivered the Pope’s response to President Obama. Throughout his life of service to the Cuban people, during times that were often fraught with difficult challenges, Cardinal Ortega was a steady voice of reason, of compassion, and of defense of fundamental rights and liberties. For many of us, he was Cuba’s conscience. He will be missed by the millions of people whose lives he touched, in both our countries, and around the world.
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Comment by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on the death of Cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega Alamino
[Over the course of two decades, Senator Leahy and Cardinal Ortega became close friends and partners in the negotiations that eventually led to the restoration of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba.]
I will never forget my first meeting with Cardinal Ortega in Havana, because Marcelle and I immediately recognized that he was a man of the highest integrity, of immense devotion to the humanitarian mission of the Catholic Church and of his country, and of an unwavering determination to improve the lives of Cubans.
Cardinal Ortega and I met many times, and I greatly valued their friendship and guidance. I asked Cardinal Ortega to seek Pope Francis’ support for reconciliation between the United States and Cuba. It was Cardinal Ortega who personally delivered the Pope’s response to President Obama. Throughout his life of service to the Cuban people, during times when they were often plagued by difficult challenges, Cardinal Ortega was a firm voice of reason, compassion and the defense of fundamental rights and freedoms. For many of us, he was the conscience of Cuba. It will be missed by millions of people whose lives he touched, both in our countries and around the world.
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