Pope Leo XIV has formally received Leyde Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández, the new ambassador representing Cuba's regime at the Vatican, as he presented his credentials. This was reported by the Vatican's Press Office.
The meeting took place on the morning of December 20, adhering to the standard protocol for accrediting new diplomatic representatives to the Vatican.
Following the ceremony, Rodríguez Hernández officially took on the leadership of Cuba's mission to the Vatican.
The Vatican also released an official biography for the diplomat. According to this information, Rodríguez Hernández was born on January 5, 1969, in Sancti Spíritus. He is married and has three children.
He holds a degree in International Political Relations from the Raúl Roa García Higher Institute of International Relations (ISRI), where he also earned a master's in History and International Relations and a doctorate in Historical Sciences. He is recognized as a full professor at the ISRI, affiliated with the University of Havana.
The summary of his professional career, as disseminated by the Vatican, highlights a path closely tied to the political, academic, and diplomatic structures of Cuba's regime. His roles have included serving as an official for the National Committee of the Union of Young Communists, an international news journalist for the official newspaper Juventud Rebelde from 1995 to 1999, and an academic leader at the ISRI.
In the diplomatic field, he has served as the acting chargé d'affaires and second secretary at Cuba's embassies in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo, as well as a counselor and deputy head of mission in France. More recently, he was Cuba's ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro from 2022 to 2025.
As reported by Cubanet, Rodríguez Hernández replaces René Mujica, who led Cuba's mission to the Vatican since 2021, although the Cuban regime did not widely publicize official information about the succession.
During his tenure in Serbia, the public activities of the now ambassador to the Vatican were characterized by the traditional agenda of Cuban diplomacy, focusing on campaigns against the US embargo, securing political support, and promoting solidarity networks aligned with the government in Havana.
Rodríguez Hernández's accreditation to the Vatican occurs amid a severe economic and social crisis in Cuba and bolsters the regime's diplomatic presence at the Vatican, which Havana has historically deemed crucial in its international strategy.
Cuba's Diplomatic Relations with the Vatican
Who is Leyde Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández?
Leyde Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández is the newly appointed ambassador of Cuba to the Vatican, with a background in political relations and extensive experience within Cuba's diplomatic and academic circles.
What roles has Rodríguez Hernández held in his diplomatic career?
Rodríguez Hernández has served in various diplomatic capacities, including as the acting chargé d'affaires and second secretary in embassies in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo, a counselor in France, and as an ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro.
Why is the Vatican significant to Cuba's international strategy?
The Vatican holds strategic importance for Cuba as it seeks international support and legitimacy, especially in the context of ongoing economic and social challenges.