• Submitted by: manso
• Society
• 11 / 04 / 2010

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4 November 2010 Last updated at 10:04 GMT. The new seminary on the outskirts of Havana on 3 November The seminary marks a new stage in Church-state ties in Cuba.

Cuban President Raul Castro has attended the inauguration of the first new Catholic building on the island in more than half a century.Mr Castro joined priests, including Vatican officials, at a new seminary outside of the capital, Havana.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Cuba, Cardinal Jaime Ortega, had warm words for Mr Castro and his brother Fidel
during the opening of the new San Carlos and San Ambrosio seminary on Wednesday.

"In the name of the Church, I thank both the former president, as well as current President Raul Castro, who honours us with his presence, for the state's support of this work," Cardinal Ortega said.

The inauguration was also attended by senior Vatican officials and a group of bishops from the US, including Thomas Wenski, the Archbishop of Miami, which is the centre of the Cuban exile community.

Papal visit

The new seminary, where students will be trained for the priesthood, is a symbol of just how far Church-state relations have improved in recent years, says the BBC's Michael Voss in Havana.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11692404