It remains unclear if any political prisoners will be among those set freed. Rights groups say more than 1,200 political detainees remain in Cuban jails.
https://p.dw.com/p/5AJlQThe prisoner release comes two weeks after Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez met with Pope Leo in the Vatican [FILE PHOTO: February 28, 2026]Image: Vatican Media/Catholic Press Photo/IMAGOAdvertisementCuba will release 51 prisoners in the coming days in a gesture of goodwill toward the Vatican, the country's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
The announcement comes about two weeks after Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez met Pope Leo at the Vatican.
The ministry said the decision followed talks with the Holy See and reflected the "close and fluid relations" between the Cuban government and the Vatican on issues including the review and release of prisoners.
"All have served a significant portion of their sentences and have maintained good conduct in prison," the ministry statement said.
Authorities did not identify the inmates or specify the offenses for which they were jailed.
The nonprofit rights group Prisoners Defenders said there were 1,214 political prisoners in Cuba as of February 2026.
However, it was not immediately clear whether any of those to be freed are political prisoners.
Havana said that 10,000 prisoners have been released over the past three years.
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