Havana-Cardinal Jaime Ortega celebrated his last Mass as Archbishop of Havana, in an environment where he recognized the Cuban authorities for the possibilities offered to progress ''on a path of dialogue''. In his homily yesterday, the Cardinal thanked especially President Raúl Castro for 'the decisive impulse' given to this process of rapprochement 'without setbacks', and not always understood, with the Catholic Church.

Ortega also stressed the position of the Cuban leader for accepting the good offices of the Vatican in restoring political relations with the United States.

After serving 35 years as Archbishop, he asked the faithful gathered in the Cathedral not to feel this moment as a farewell, since he will continue to serve the Church, because the bishops and the priests 'do not retire'.

In addition, during the Mass it was read a message from Pope Francis, in which the Pontiff praised the work of the Cuban priest favoring the dialogue and reconciliation on the island.

The message also highlighted the work done by Ortega to promote rapprochement between Cuba and the Vatican, which is reflected in the visits to the island of St. John Paul II in 1998, Benedict XVI in 2012 and Francis in 2015.

In the final days of April, the Pope accepted Jaime Ortega's retirement as Archbishop for exceeding the age of 75 years - he is about to turn 80- in accordance with the Code of the Canon Law, and for that responsibility Monsignor Juan de la Caridad García was appointed, who until now was the Archbishop of Camagüey.