Evelio Díaz-Cía
Encyclopedia
Evelio Diaz-Cia was the Archbishop
of the Archdiocese of Havana.
His parents were Arturo Díaz-Díaz and Francisca Cía-López. He was baptised at his parish church in San Cristobal on February 7, 1903 by Father Marcelino Herrero-de Dios (Registered in Box 19 of Baptisms, Folio 387, number 1260). He did his religious studies at the San Carlos and San Ambrosio Seminary
.
He was ordained a priest on September 12, 1926 and was named Chaplain
of the Cathedral of Havana. On June 18, 1927, he was assigned to the Parish of Nuestra Señora de Montserrate. On April 2, 1940, named Chaplain to the Ursulines
Sisters. On September 10, 1935, he was named Professor of Church History and Sociology at the San Carlos y San Ambrosio Seminary. He was assigned to the parish of Santo Ángel on February 15, 1939 and on April 11, 1940, Vice-Rector
of the Seminary and six days after that Chaplain of the Sagrado Corazón de Tejadillo.
Diaz-Cia was elevated to Bishop of Pinar del Río
on December 26, 1941 by Pope Pius XII. He was consecrated on March 1, 1942 in the Cathedral of Pinar del Río by Mons. Giorgio Caruana, Titular Archbishop of Sebaste
, Apostolic Nuncio of Cuba and assisted by Mons. Enrique Pérez-Serantes, Bishop of Camagüey
and by Mons. Alberto Martín y Villaverde
, Bishop of Matanzas
. In 1958 he wrote the famous "Oración por la Paz" (Prayer for Peace). He was named Titular Bishop of Lamdia and named Auxiliary Bishop of Cardinal Manuel Arteaga-Betancourt, Archbishop of Havana and Apostolic Administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedis on March 21, 1959. On that same date he was named Apostolic Administrator of Pinar del Río and remained in that position until January 16, 1960 when Mons. Manuel Rodriguez-Rozas was named Bishop of Pinar del Río
. On May 31, 1959 he declared his approval the Agrian Reforms in the magazine Bohemia without knowing how it was to be implemented. Promoted to Titular Archbishop of Petra di Palestina and named Coadjutor sedis datus of Havana on November 14, 1959. He participated in the National Catholic Congress held in Havana on November 28–29, 1959. He was arrested and held for a few days in April 1961 during the Bay of Pigs Invasion
.
On August 4, 1961, Diaz-Cia was given the right of succession to the Archdiocese of Havana. He succeeded as Archbishop of Havana on March 21, 1963 upon the death of Cardinal Arteaga. On April 10, 1969 he was pressured to sign a document asking for the ending of the U.S. economic blockade against Cuba. He resigned his office of Archbishop of Havana and took the title of Titular Archbishop of Celene on January 26, 1970. He was succeeded by Mons. Francisco Ricardo Oves-Fernandez, Titular Bishop of Montecorvino and Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Cienfuegos. Diaz-Cia renounced his titular see and assumed the title of Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Havana on December 26, 1970.
He died on July 21, 1984 in Havana. His funeral was held at the Cathedral of Havana and he is buried in the Colon Cemetery. In his funeral procession was the Pro Nuncio in Cuba, Mons. Giulio Einaudi
and the members of the Conferencia Episcopal Cubana were present.
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the Archdiocese of Havana.
His parents were Arturo Díaz-Díaz and Francisca Cía-López. He was baptised at his parish church in San Cristobal on February 7, 1903 by Father Marcelino Herrero-de Dios (Registered in Box 19 of Baptisms, Folio 387, number 1260). He did his religious studies at the San Carlos and San Ambrosio Seminary
San Carlos and San Ambrosio Seminary
San Carlos and San Ambrosio Seminary is a seminary in Havana, Cuba.This building was erected by the Jesuits in the mid 18th century to house a seminary first founded in 1689. After the Jesuits were expelled in 1767, it was known as the St. Ambrose Seminary and in 1774 it was opened under the name...
.
He was ordained a priest on September 12, 1926 and was named Chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
of the Cathedral of Havana. On June 18, 1927, he was assigned to the Parish of Nuestra Señora de Montserrate. On April 2, 1940, named Chaplain to the Ursulines
Ursulines
The Ursulines are a Roman Catholic religious order for women founded at Brescia, Italy, by Saint Angela de Merici in November 1535, primarily for the education of girls and the care of the sick and needy. Their patron saint is Saint Ursula.-History:St Angela de Merici spent 17 years leading a...
Sisters. On September 10, 1935, he was named Professor of Church History and Sociology at the San Carlos y San Ambrosio Seminary. He was assigned to the parish of Santo Ángel on February 15, 1939 and on April 11, 1940, Vice-Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Seminary and six days after that Chaplain of the Sagrado Corazón de Tejadillo.
Diaz-Cia was elevated to Bishop of Pinar del Río
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pinar del Río
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pinar del Rio is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of San Cristobal de la Habana.-Ordinaries:*Braulio Orue-Vivanco *José Manuel Dámaso Rúiz y Rodríguez...
on December 26, 1941 by Pope Pius XII. He was consecrated on March 1, 1942 in the Cathedral of Pinar del Río by Mons. Giorgio Caruana, Titular Archbishop of Sebaste
Sebaste
Sebaste was a common placename in classical Antiquity. Sebaste was the Greek equivalent of the Latin Augusta. Ancient towns by the name sought to honor Augustus or a later Roman emperor.- Places :* Elaiussa Sebaste in Mersin Province, Turkey...
, Apostolic Nuncio of Cuba and assisted by Mons. Enrique Pérez-Serantes, Bishop of Camagüey
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Camagüey
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Camagüey is a Metropolitan Archdiocese, responsible for the dioceses of Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos and Santa Clara.-Ordinaries:*Valentín Zubizarreta-Unamunsaga, O.C.D...
and by Mons. Alberto Martín y Villaverde
Alberto Martín y Villaverde
Bishop Juan Alberto de la Merced Martín y Villaverde was Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Matanzas .Bishop Martin was ordained a priest on October 27, 1927...
, Bishop of Matanzas
Roman Catholic Diocese of Matanzas
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Matanzas is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of San Cristobal de la Habana.-Ordinaries:*Charles Warren Currier *Severiano Sainz y Bencamo...
. In 1958 he wrote the famous "Oración por la Paz" (Prayer for Peace). He was named Titular Bishop of Lamdia and named Auxiliary Bishop of Cardinal Manuel Arteaga-Betancourt, Archbishop of Havana and Apostolic Administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedis on March 21, 1959. On that same date he was named Apostolic Administrator of Pinar del Río and remained in that position until January 16, 1960 when Mons. Manuel Rodriguez-Rozas was named Bishop of Pinar del Río
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pinar del Río
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pinar del Rio is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of San Cristobal de la Habana.-Ordinaries:*Braulio Orue-Vivanco *José Manuel Dámaso Rúiz y Rodríguez...
. On May 31, 1959 he declared his approval the Agrian Reforms in the magazine Bohemia without knowing how it was to be implemented. Promoted to Titular Archbishop of Petra di Palestina and named Coadjutor sedis datus of Havana on November 14, 1959. He participated in the National Catholic Congress held in Havana on November 28–29, 1959. He was arrested and held for a few days in April 1961 during the Bay of Pigs Invasion
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an unsuccessful action by a CIA-trained force of Cuban exiles to invade southern Cuba, with support and encouragement from the US government, in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. The invasion was launched in April 1961, less than three months...
.
On August 4, 1961, Diaz-Cia was given the right of succession to the Archdiocese of Havana. He succeeded as Archbishop of Havana on March 21, 1963 upon the death of Cardinal Arteaga. On April 10, 1969 he was pressured to sign a document asking for the ending of the U.S. economic blockade against Cuba. He resigned his office of Archbishop of Havana and took the title of Titular Archbishop of Celene on January 26, 1970. He was succeeded by Mons. Francisco Ricardo Oves-Fernandez, Titular Bishop of Montecorvino and Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Cienfuegos. Diaz-Cia renounced his titular see and assumed the title of Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Havana on December 26, 1970.
He died on July 21, 1984 in Havana. His funeral was held at the Cathedral of Havana and he is buried in the Colon Cemetery. In his funeral procession was the Pro Nuncio in Cuba, Mons. Giulio Einaudi
Giulio Einaudi
Giulio Einaudi was one of the most important publishers in Italian history.-Biography:Giulio Einaudi was born in Dogliani in 1912, the son of Luigi Einaudi, future president of the Italian Republic, and his wife Ida.He attended the Massimo d'Azeglio liceo classico, and became a student of noted...
and the members of the Conferencia Episcopal Cubana were present.