By Charles Igwe
Cardinal Pietro Parolin has described Cuba’s announcement of the gradual release of 553 prisoners as a powerful sign of hope, marking the beginning of the Jubilee Year with a gesture of clemency. Speaking from France in response to a query from Vatican Media, the Cardinal highlighted the significance of this decision, particularly its connection to Pope Francis’ ongoing appeals for mercy during this sacred time.
“It is significant,” Cardinal Parolin remarked, “that Havana authorities linked this decision directly to Pope Francis’ appeal.” He referenced the Pope’s Bull of Indiction of the Jubilee and reiterated how the pontiff has consistently called for acts of clemency, a tradition often observed during Holy Years. This latest development from Cuba, he suggested, embodies the spirit of mercy and reconciliation that the Jubilee seeks to inspire globally.
The Cardinal also noted a series of hopeful events that concluded the year 2024, including the commutation of dozens of death sentences to life imprisonment in the United States and Zimbabwe’s historic abolition of the death penalty. These milestones, he suggested, are part of a broader trend toward compassion and justice.
As the Jubilee unfolds, Cardinal Parolin expressed his hope that 2025 would bring even more good news. “We hope that 2025 will continue in this direction and that good news will multiply, especially with a truce for the many ongoing conflicts,” he said. His remarks reflect the Vatican’s enduring commitment to fostering peace and promoting acts of mercy in a world that continues to grapple with division and strife.
