Juan de la Caridad García Rodríguez was born in Camagüey, Cuba, on 11 July 1948, in a modest family, the first of six children. He entered the San Basilio Magno Seminary in El Cobre, attended El Buen Pastor Seminary in Havana for a year, and completed his theological formation at the San Carlos y San Ambrosio Seminary in Havana, as part of the first group of Cuban priests formed entirely in Cuba. He was ordained a priest on 25 January 1972. In the 1970s, when regime controls forbade priests to preach outside church walls, 'Father Juanito', as he was known, went from house to house distributing leaflets reaffirming Christian principles. His early ministry was in the present Diocese of Ciego de Ávila, in Morón and Jatibonico, and from 1989 in the parish of Florida and neighbouring communities. He co-authored the popular devotional Los cubanos rezamos a Dios and founded and directed the diocesan School for Missionaries.
On 15 March 1997 he was appointed titular Bishop of Gummi in Proconsolare and Auxiliary Bishop of Camagüey, receiving episcopal ordination on 7 June 1997 in the church of Nuestra Señora de la Merced from Archbishop Adolfo Rodríguez Herrera. His episcopal motto is Ve y anuncia el Evangelio ('Go and proclaim the Gospel'). On 10 June 2002 he was promoted to Archbishop of Camagüey. He chaired the first National Assembly of Missions in Havana in 2006 and was elected president of the Cuban Episcopal Conference in February of that year, representing Cuba at the Aparecida assembly of Latin American and Caribbean bishops in 2007. In 2007 he was appointed a member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. In Camagüey he relaunched the San Agustín Seminary and developed works serving the poorest, and he took part personally in relief work after Hurricane Ike in 2008.
Pope Francis entrusted him with the Archdiocese of San Cristóbal de La Habana on 26 April 2016, in succession to Cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino. He was created a cardinal in the consistory of 5 October 2019 and assigned the titular church of Santi Aquila e Priscilla. He is a member of the Dicastery for the Clergy and of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. He participated as a cardinal elector in the 2025 conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV.
Consequential Quotes
The conclave and the general congregations are acts of faith. We believe that the Holy Spirit is there.
That is precisely the wonder of remembering the synodality that has been present in the Gospel for 2,000 years.
There is a desire to make grow what Pope Francis bequeathed with his life, with his words, with his examples. A desire to go to our neighbor, which ultimately is Christ, a desire for peace so necessary in the whole world.
In those cardinals there are holy men, missionary men, charitable men, men who have lived or who fully live the faith. There may be many bets, there may be many opinions, but it is an act of faith in which the Holy Spirit manifests himself.
A mystical man, a missionary, a man of charity, a synodal man, a synodal successor, with affection for people, because in the whole world we all need affection.
That helps me a lot. So to the extent that you are holy, I can be holy.
Major Works & Initiatives
Archbishop of Camagüey
Promoted to Archbishop of Camagüey on 10 June 2002; there he relaunched the San Agustín Seminary, developed numerous works in the service of the poorest, and opened the beatification process of his predecessor, Archbishop Adolfo Rodríguez Herrera (Holy See biography).
President of the Cuban Episcopal Conference; chair of the First National Assembly of Missions
Chaired the first National Assembly of Missions, held in Havana in 2006, and was elected president of the Cuban Episcopal Conference in February 2006, per the Holy See biography.
Member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
Appointed a member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in 2007, per the Holy See biography.
Member of the Dicastery for the Clergy and the Pontifical Commission for Latin America
Named a member of the Congregation for the Clergy on 21 February 2020 and of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America on 20 April 2020; the Holy See biography lists both memberships.
Controversies
On the record
No significant public controversies reported.
Sources
- Holy See Press Office — biography
- Wikipedia
- Catholic News Service via CatholicPhilly — unassuming pastor who helped rebuild Cuban church, 10 September 2019
- National Catholic Reporter — Havana's Cardinal García on synodality, unity and the next pope, 5 May 2025
- Palabra Nueva — Cuban Cardinal assures that he will remain the same, 6 October 2019