Continuing his prayer, García referred to the role of the Virgin Mary as the mediator of the supplications and longings of the Cuban people: “I want to ask you what the pilgrims come before you to pray for… We want to live with less pressing needs, we want to try to live a normal life in which everyone can make their plan and life project.”
“We want to use the hours of our time in reading and in service, but many times we use them in the daily struggle to obtain the essentials of life, which are almost always in short supply. The nights become long, without power. We ask, Lord, that you give us inner power,” he continued.
García also addressed the need to eradicate violence in the streets and to promote mutual respect among citizens: “We ask you, Mother, that we all be one and that we Cubans respect one another… In the same way that we are beginning Holy Week, let us accompany the sacrifice of Jesus.”
“I ask you that we have the hope of that people who were awaiting the Messiah. We know that one day the light will come to our people, the inner light. I ask you that we may realize that if we do not do the will of God, which is to do good, we will fail in life,” he prayed.
“We also ask you, Father, that one day we will see the light, the light [to resolve] these problems. But also that we all find the light of faith, which is what leads us precisely to give an account of everything that exists, of what we experience,” he added.
The archbishop ended his petitions with a Hail Mary for peace and unity: “Let us pray for the Cuban people and for the faith of the Cuban people… Let us pray.”