Pope Leo XIV expressed “great concern” over rising tensions between the U.S. and Cuba during his Angelus address, joining Cuban bishops in urging leaders to pursue “sincere and effective dialogue” to avoid further suffering for the Cuban people, according to Vatican News reporting in the 2-hour-59-minute window from 12:45:39 AM to 3:45:36 AM UTC on February 2, 2026. The papal statement references ongoing U.S.-Cuba frictions, including prior incidents involving the U.S. Ambassador in Havana and negotiations confirmed by President Donald Trump with high-ranking Cuban officials at 7:00 PM UTC on February 1, as previously reported. No new incidents or official U.S. or Cuban statements emerged in this period, per available sources. A separate unrelated development saw El Salvador President Nayib Bukele state he had congratulated Costa Rica's President-elect Laura Fernández by phone, wishing her success for her administration and the Costa Rican people, according to Bukele's X post timestamped within the reporting window.
