Archbishop worships with Navy and Cubans

GUANTANAMO, Cuba, July 5 (UPI) -- The head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services USA crossed between the Navy base at Guantanamo and Guantanamo province, worshipping in both places.

Archbishop Timothy Broglio visited the Navy personnel from June 20 to 23. He went to Cuba proper June 24 and said Mass at Guantanamo Cathedral June 25, the Miami Herald reported.

Broglio may be the first Catholic archbishop to worship with the Navy troops and with Cubans, the newspaper said. A minefield separates the base from Cuban territory.

Broglio is based in Washington, where he heads the Vatican division that ministers to the Catholic faithful in all U.S. armed services. As a civilian, he is not banned from contact with Cuban officials.

The archbishop was quoted in the Herald as saying "many of the servicemen in the Guantanamo base wanted to make this trip with me."