Some interesting statistics and images in a New York Times news story on the Pope’s upcoming visit to Cuba, and the political tensions therein:
“Just over half of Cuba’s population of about 11 million identify themselves as Catholic, according to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, compared with 85 percent of Mexicans. Of Cuba’s Catholics, 5 percent or less go to church and many practice Santería, which blends the Yoruba religion, with roots in Africa, and Catholicism.”
That half of the population would report itself as Catholic, when other sources report that over 70% of Cubans identify as practicing Santería— a statistic that jibes much better with my personal experience of the place— shows just how syncretic these religions really are.
