The Internet Travel Guide "Getting to Know Cuba"

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Religion

Because slavery was abolished relatively late in Cuba, African influences on Cuban religion are still quite strong and there are many followers of afro-cuban cults.

Statue of Jesus in Havana

One of these cults is for example Santeria, which is related to the Haitian voodoo. The worship ceremonies are called orishas and combine Christian with ritual elements, i.e. cults are integrated into the Christian belief (and vice versa). Therefore, it is likely to see a statue of the Virgin Mary next to an African deity and a picture of Che Guevara.

Church ruins in Trinidad

Traditional Christian beliefs, however, are also practiced, and the Pope's visit to Cuba in 1998 certainly marked a turning point in the history of Catholicism in Cuba.
It led to a growing interest in the Catholic religion and to actual results: the Cuban government released several hundred political prisoners and gave the church access to the government-controlled media. A new dialogue between Church and government was established.