Cuban churches urge prayers for Castro's recovery

by Manuel Quintero
Ecumenical News International 

GENEVA — Cuban Council of Churches leader, the Rev. Rodhe Gonzalez, has called on Christians in her country to pray for the recovery of President Fidel Castro and for the unity of the Cuban people. 
 
     “As part of our people, we continue praying for our president and imploring God for help and strength to continue being a united nation, working together for justice, love and peace,” national broadcaster, Radio Havana Cuba, reported church council chairperson Gonzalez as saying.  
 
     Members of the council’s member churches gathered for prayers on Aug. 7 in Havana’s Anglican cathedral, with similar events taking place around the country, she told Ecumenical News International from Cuba. 
 
     Gonzalez described life on the island as normal, but said people were concerned about Castro’s state of health. He has not been seen in public since July 26, the anniversary of the start of the revolution that swept him to power. 
 
     “An acute intestinal crisis with persistent bleeding forced me to undergo a complicated surgical procedure. The surgery makes it necessary for me to take several weeks of rest away from my duties and posts,” Castro said in a statement issued on July 31.
 
     “There is a collective government now and we all feel the importance of preserving unity at this critical time,” said Gonzalez. 
 
     Power has been temporarily transferred to a leadership headed by Castro’s younger brother, Raul.  
  
     The Cuban Catholic Bishops’ Conference also called its faithful to pray for the recovery of President Castro, the state-run Granma newspaper reported.  In a letter to Roman Catholics in the country, the bishops asked local congregations “to offer prayers so that God accompanies President Fidel Castro in his illness and illuminates those who have provisionally received the responsibilities of government.”