Juan de la Caridad García Appointed Archbishop of Havana

Monsignor Juan de la Caridad Garcia was named by Pope Francis as new Archbishop of Havana, the Catholic Church in Cuba confirmed today

According to a communique issued in this capital, the appointment comes in the wake of acceptance by the Pope of the resignation filed by Cardinal Jaime Ortega to Pope Benedict XVI in October 18, 2011, when he turned 75.

Monsignor Garcia was born on June 11, 1948 in Camaguey (central-eastern Cuba). He was ordained priest on Jan. 25, 1972, named Auxiliary Bishop of Camaguey on March 15, 1997, and Archbishop of Camaguey on June 10, 2002.

In the text issued by the Archbisho’s Office of Havana, the auxiliary bishops, episcopal vicars, priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Havana welcomed the appointment and upcoming inauguration of Monsignor Garcia.

They also appreciate the invaluable pastoral work dseveloped by Cardinal Jaime Ortega since his appointment as Bishop of Pinar del Rio in 1978, and later as Archbishop of Havana since 1981.

Ortega will set up residence at the Father Felix Varela Cultural Center (former home to the Seminar of Saint Charles and Saint Ambrose.)