Father José Conrado Rodríguez Alegre, the parish priest at San Francisco de Paula Church in Trinidad, Sancti Spíritus, shared his insights on the tension in Cuba during an interview with Tania Costa. He used a poignant phrase to describe the situation, one he has repeated in lectures in Cienfuegos: "Everyone wants a funeral, but no one wants to be the corpse."
The 75-year-old priest, with 50 years in ministry, made these remarks amid protests erupting this Wednesday in several Havana municipalities, spurred by power outages lasting up to 20 to 22 hours a day. Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy publicly admitted that the regime has run out of fuel to provide electricity.
Father Conrado clarified that his statement was not a critique of the Cuban people: "The people fundamentally want change. They are working towards change. However, for a long time, they hesitated to act due to the risks involved, the consequences they would face."
This risk has a harsh reality: "People know they can be sentenced to 5, 10, 15, 20 years in prison for speaking out—not for taking over a military barrack," he referenced the 1953 Moncada Barracks attack led by Fidel and Raúl Castro.
Nonetheless, Father Conrado notes that this paralysis is being overcome by desperation. He recalls a phrase he first heard from a cousin 25 years ago, now echoed by "many people": "To live like this, it's better to die."
"This is the current state of the Cuban people. Living like this is unbearable," he asserted.
According to Father Conrado, this growing awareness is manifesting in direct action: citizens daring to bang pots in the streets or confront Communist Party members with accusations like, "You are murderers, our enemies, not our friends; you serve a regime that oppresses and harms us."
He frames this as a profound and irreversible shift. "People yearn to live differently. They have realized it's not just about the lack of food; it's about the lack of freedom. And I believe that realization is unbeatable."
Regarding the regime, Father Conrado was blunt. "They have no future, but they refuse to acknowledge it. They cling to the rhetoric of 60, 50, 40 years ago, but the world has changed, and Cuba has changed."
The priest's history of courage supports his words. On May 12th, Mike Hammer met with Father Conrado for the second time, who traveled from Trinidad to express his concerns about the Cuban situation. In January, the regime responded to a previous visit by the U.S. Embassy's chief of mission to the Trinidad parish with a public act of repudiation.
When asked if he fears arrest upon returning to Cuba, Father Conrado calmly replied: "On May 22, 2026, indeed. And I say this serenely, because if they want to arrest me at the airport... the only thing I carry when traveling is medicine."
Understanding Cuba's Current Struggles and Protests
What sparked the recent protests in Cuba?
The protests were triggered by prolonged power outages, lasting up to 22 hours, due to the Cuban regime's inability to supply sufficient fuel for electricity.
Why is Father Conrado significant in these events?
Father Conrado is a prominent religious figure in Cuba, known for his outspoken criticism of the regime and support for change. His words encourage the Cuban people to overcome fear and demand freedom and better living conditions.
How does the Cuban regime view Father Conrado's actions?
The regime sees Father Conrado's actions as oppositional, responding to his meetings with U.S. officials and public statements with acts of repudiation and potential threats of arrest.