According to reports from Cuban outlets, the communist regime banned Christians in Havana from celebrating Palm Sunday and the traditional Solemn Stations of the Cross on Sunday.
Cuban priest Lester Rafael Zayas Díaz of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Vedado, Havana wrote on social media, “We hereby inform that the Solemn Stations of the Cross announced and prepared by the Vicariate for tomorrow Palm Sunday at 6:00 p.m. from Linea to Lateran has been suspended because the authorities have not approved it.”
Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week, which commemorates the Passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This year, Holy Week runs from April 13 to April 20, which is Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.
Breitbart reports:
The Stations of the Cross that the Cuban communists prohibited the Vedado parish from celebrating is a Catholic procession that commemorates Jesus Christ’s last day on Earth prior to resurrection on Easter Sunday. Some Christians observe this practice on Good Friday, which marks the crucifixion of Jesus. Neither the Castro regime nor the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish has explained the reasons behind the prohibition of the procession in Vedado.
Last week, Father Zayas Díaz shared pictures of the procession’s rehearsal before it was canceled by the Castro regime. The procession is on the complete list of events that the Archdiocese of Havana planned for this year’s Holy Week in the Cuban capital.
Sunday’s prohibition marks the second year in a row that the Castro regime banned Catholics from celebrating Holy Week processions in the country. In 2024, the regime banned Christians in Havana and several other cities from celebrating that year’s Stations of the Cross and other Holy Week activities. Prior to the 2023 and 2024 prohibitions, Vedado’s Stations of the Cross procession was reportedly celebrated without interruption for over 11 years and had only been suspended due to the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic.
When the Castro regime prohibited the 2024 Holy Week, Father Zayas Díaz reportedly told the Catholic News Agency’s Spanish branch, ACI Prensa, that he believes it was implemented out of fear for possible protests against the communist government.