During a press conference at the White House on Tuesday, Marco Rubio announced his intention to discuss expanding humanitarian assistance to Cuba with Pope Leo XIV. His proposal hinges on the aid being channeled through the Catholic Church, contingent upon the approval of the regime led by Miguel Díaz-Canel.
The Secretary of State outlined that his upcoming trip to the Vatican, starting this Thursday, will focus on enhancing collaboration with the Church to deliver aid to the island.
Rubio recalled that in February, the White House had already dispatched $6 million in humanitarian aid to Cuba, which was distributed via Caritas Cuba and the Church's parish network, bypassing the regime entirely.
He stressed that Washington is prepared to extend further assistance if Havana ceases its obstruction: "We're ready to provide more humanitarian aid to Cuba, but the Cuban regime must allow us to do so."
"They refuse to let us offer more humanitarian support to their own people, and we are willing to do it through the Church," the U.S. diplomat reiterated.
In the same press conference, Rubio delivered a stern rebuke to the Cuban regime, labeling it a "failed state" ruled by "incompetent communists" who "don't know how to fix it."
Rubio's agenda with the Vatican will also address the defense of global religious freedom, an area where he noted shared concerns with the Holy See: "We have common concerns about religious freedom, and we would like to discuss them."
The Secretary of State mentioned Pope Leo XIV's recent visit to West Africa, where the pontiff addressed issues of religious freedom, as an example of the shared interests between Washington and the Vatican.
Rubio dismissed any notion that the trip is an attempt to "smooth things over" following public tensions between President Donald Trump and the pope, clarifying that the visit had been planned in advance.
The meeting with Pope Leo XIV is scheduled for Thursday, May 7, at the Apostolic Palace, as confirmed by the State Department regarding Rubio's travel to Italy and the Vatican.
The visit occurs amid intense U.S. pressure on Cuba: since January, the U.S. imposed an oil embargo that has led to blackouts lasting up to 25 hours a day and a 7.2% contraction in GDP.
Direct negotiations between Washington and Havana collapsed in April after Cuba rejected an ultimatum to release high-profile political prisoners such as Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel Osorbo, with the deadline passing on April 24 without an agreement.
Rubio also downplayed the controversy sparked by a photograph showing him alongside General Francis L. Donovan, head of the Southern Command, in front of a map of Cuba, which some interpreted as a sign of a potential imminent military offensive against the island.
The Vatican has a proven track record as a mediator between Washington and Havana: Pope Francis played a pivotal role in the rapprochement between Obama and Raúl Castro in 2014, facilitating secret channels that culminated in the restoration of diplomatic relations on December 17 of that year.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff in history, has visited Cuba twice as the superior general of the Augustinian order, giving him firsthand knowledge of the island's realities and a potential role as an intermediary in any process of change.
Key Questions About Rubio's Visit and Humanitarian Aid to Cuba
Why does Marco Rubio want to involve the Catholic Church in delivering aid to Cuba?
Marco Rubio aims to involve the Catholic Church to ensure that humanitarian aid bypasses the Cuban regime and reaches the people directly, using the Church's established networks.
What conditions has Washington set for providing more aid to Cuba?
Washington is willing to offer more humanitarian aid to Cuba if the Cuban government allows the aid to be distributed through the Catholic Church without interference.
What impact did the U.S. oil embargo have on Cuba?
The U.S. oil embargo has resulted in prolonged power outages, lasting up to 25 hours a day, and has caused a 7.2% decline in Cuba's GDP.