The Cuban government has announced the release of 51 prisoners "in the coming days", describing the decision as a gesture "in the spirit of goodwill and of close and open relations between the Cuban State and the Vatican". The statement, also linked to initiatives ahead of Holy Week celebrations, was issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Havana. In response to journalists' questions, Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, confirmed that "there have been recent discussions regarding the release of prisoners". According to Cuban authorities, the inmates affected by the measure have already served a significant portion of their sentences and have maintained good behavior while in prison. "This sovereign decision is standard practice in our criminal justice system", the statement said. However, neither the identities of those involved, nor the nature of the offenses for which they were convicted, have been made public. The measure is a component of a more extensive framework of historically intricate, yet continuous, relationships between the Cuban government and the Holy See. In recent years, the Holy See has frequently served as a mediator, encouraging humanitarian initiatives and opportunities for communication between Havana and the international community. In the past, a number of prisoners were also released following appeals made during the Jubilee year.