Cuba builds its first new Catholic church in 55 years in sign of thawing relations with Vatican

Cuba has allowed construction of country's first Catholic church in 55 years Experts believe it is a sign of improving relations between church and state The new church will be funded by FloridaCatholicsand will fit 200 people

By Corey Charlton for MailOnline

Published: 12:29 EST, 28 October 2014 | Updated: 12:33 EST, 28 October 2014

Cuba has allowed construction of the country's first new Catholic church in 55 years, in a sign of improving relations between the Vatican and Cuba's communist government.

The new church, funded by donations from Catholics in Tampa, Florida, will be built in Sandino, a citrus and coffee-growing town in the far-western province of Pinar del Rio.

The Catholic Church publication 'Christian Life' said it will have space for 200 people.

'The construction of a church is a clear demonstration of a new phase, of an improvement, in relations between the church and the state,' said Enrique Lopez Oliva, a professor of the history of religions at the University of Havana.

The construction of a Catholic church in Cuba (pictured is the capital Havana) is a sign of improving relations between the Communist Government and the Vatican

The Catholic Church had tense relations with what was long an officially atheist government for many years after the 1959 revolution, but they began to improve ahead of Pope John Paul II's visit in 1998.

The government revived observance of a Christmas holiday and began allowing masses or homilies to be broadcast on official media.

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Cuba builds its first new Catholic church in 55 years in sign of thawing relations with Vatican