This morning, the Holy Father received in audience His Excellency Mr. Leyde Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández, Ambassador of Cuba to the Holy See, on the occasion of the presentation of his credential letters.

The following is a brief biography of the new Ambassador:

His Excellency Mr. Leyde Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández
Ambassador of Cuba to the Holy See

His Excellency Mr. Leyde Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández was born on 5 January 1969 in Sancti Spiritus.

He is married with three children.

He graduated in international political relations from the Higher Institute of International Relations “Raúl Roa García” (ISRI), and was awarded a master’s degree in history and international relations in Havana and a doctorate in historical sciences. He is a titular profession of the ISRI of the University of Havana.

Professional experience: Official of the National Committee of the Young Communists Union. Coordinator of the International Relations Department; journalist for the International Editorial Office of the Juventud Rebelde newspaper. (1995 – 1999); professor and Director of the Department of Public Relations at the Higher Institute of International Relations “Raúl Roa García” (2001 – 2002); interim Chargé d'Affaires; Second Secretary at the Embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo (2002 – 2003) and in the Republic of Congo (2003 – 2004); Head of the Department of Political, Legal and Historical Studies at the Higher Institute of International Relations “Raúl Roa García” (2005 – 2007); Counsellor, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy in France (2007 – 2011); professor, coordinator of the master's degree in International Relations at the Higher Institute of International Relations “Raúl Roa García” (2012 – 2016); Vice-Rector for Research and Postgraduate Studies at the Higher Institute of International Relations “Raúl Roa García” (2016–2022); and Ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro (2022–2025).