Havana’s Historian Eusebio Leal received Wednesday the diploma and robe that accredit him as Doctor Honoris Causa in Legal Sciences and Law History with the Pontifical Lateran University of the Vatican.

Giampiero Gloder, apostolic nuncio in Cuba – maximum representative of the Holy See on the island – presented Leal with the high educational category, upon the approval of Pope Francis.

The distinction recognizes the leadership and contribution of the prestigious Cuban intellectual to the restoration of Old Havana and the preservation of Cuba’s cultural and historical heritage, as well as his extensive professional, teaching and academic career.

The Pontifical Lateran University, based in St. John Lateran, in Rome, was named by St. John Paul II as the University of the Pope. It is one of the most important teaching and research institutions of the Holy See, whose origins date back to 1773.

Wednesday’s ceremony at the headquarters of the Apostolic Nunciature here in Havana, was attended by Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Roberto Morales, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Anayansi Rodríguez, and the head of the Office of Attention to Religious Affairs of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, Caridad Diego.

Also present were the archbishop of Havana, Cardinal Juan de la Caridad García; the president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba, Monsignor Emilio Aranguren, and other Cuban government, culture and Catholic Church authorities.

Eusebio Leal, is the author of several books, essays, prologues and articles on Cuba’s history and culture. The University of Basilicata, in Italy, granted him the title of Honorary Research Doctor in October 2019.

Doctor of Historical Sciences of the University of Havana, the historian is dean of the San Gerónimo University College of Havana, and honorary president of the Economic Society of the Friends of the Country.