The gala took place at Old Havana’s Cathedral Square in the presence of a public that included Cuban Cardinal Jaime Ortega, along with representatives of the government and the Communist Party, the Cubadebate Web site reported.

Ortega, top authority of the Catholic Church on the island, highlighted the presence of the Virgen de la Caridad in Cuba’s history, and said that her image has become “stronger and more alive” these days, in which it has toured the entire country in procession.

“We thank God because times have changed,” asserted Ortega -also Havana’s Archbishop- in his opening words before the concert, after pointing out that Cubans are living “a different Christmas” with the presence of the Virgin on the streets.

Also performing in the concert were artists of different genres and generations, like
pianist and composer Jose Maria Vitier, singer-songwriters Amaury Perez and Carlos Varela, the group Compay Segundo, and rock musician X Alfonso, among others.

One of the most applauded moments of the evening was the version of Schubert’s Ave Maria in the voice of Omara Portuondo, who was accompanied by singer Augusto Enriquez.

So far, the tour of the Virgen de la Caridad has covered a route of some 30,000 kilometers since it left its sanctuary at the town of El Cobre, in eastern Santiago de Cuba province, on August 8, 2010.

According to the legend, the image of the Caridad del Cobre appeared in 1612 to three fishermen rowing a boat in Nipe Bay, on the eastern side of the island.
It was declared Cuba’s patron saint on May 10, 1916, and personally crowned by Pope Paul II on January 24, 1998, during a visit to the island.