Cuba marks Good Friday with prayers and prisoner releases

Worshippers gathered in Old Havana on Friday (April 3) for prayers and reflection on Good Friday, a sacred day in the Christian calendar, as Cuba faced its most stringent U.S. sanctions in decades.

Good Friday is the second of four Catholic holidays leading to Easter Sunday. This year's commemoration coincided with the Cuban government's announcement of amnesty for over 2,000 prisoners, marking the largest release in a decade. The releases began early Friday, just hours after state-run media described the move on Thursday (April 2) as a "sovereign and humanitarian" gesture.

Mileidys Lopez, a devotee attending the religious procession, praised the amnesty. "We are happy with this situation, that many prisoners are today celebrating Good Friday with their families ... we thank all the support that the government has given for this situation which is very beneficial," she said.

Catholic faithful offered prayers for world peace, unity among Cubans, and the health and economic prosperity of the island, which is currently facing a severe economic crisis marked by shortages of medicine, food, and fuel. Cuba received its first significant oil delivery in three months earlier this week. The island is grappling with a deepening energy crisis triggered after the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump cut off its fuel supply.

The Trump administration has intensified sanctions against its longtime foe, returning Cuba to a U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, tightening rules on remittances, and shutting off Biden-era migration programs.

Production: Alien Fernandez, Gloria Lopez/Reuters