Fidel Castro to “gladly” meet Benedict XVI
Havana (AsiaNews) - Fidel Castro will "gladly" receive Benedict
XVI today in Havana, the last day of the pontiff's presence in Cuba in an
article signed by him and published on the official website CubaDebate.cu, the
"Lider Maximo
"writes:" I will be happy to meet with His Excellency Pope Benedict
XVI, as I did in 1998 with John Paul II: a man in whom contact with children
and humble citizens invariably aroused feelings of affection". The 85
year old former Cuban president, ill for several years, explains that he
decided to ask the pope for "a few minutes of his time which is so
overburdened with commitments" after learning from Foreign Minister Bruno
Rodriguez, that the distinguished guest would "enjoy a modest and simple conversation. "
The
wait for a meeting between Fidel Castro and Pope Benedict XVI has dominated the
pope's trip. Many
expected that this meeting would take place yesterday, when the pontiff visited
Raul Castro, brother of former dictator in the presidential palace. The
visit was defined as an encounter with "the president and his
family."
In
the meeting with Raul Castro, lasting 55 minutes, nearly twice that of a normal
meeting with a Heads of State, the Pope asked that Good Friday be considered a
public holiday to allow Christians to celebrate the day of the Passion of Jesus
The director
of the Vatican Press, Fr. Federico
Lombardi, said the government responded that t will consider the request. In
1998, at John Paul II's request, the Cuban authorities decided to make December
25th, Christmas Day, a civic celebration.
According to Fr. Lombardi,
the pope also made some "humanitarian requests", perhaps referring to
the questions related to the imprisonment of many political dissidents for whom
the Cuban Church has often been a mediator for their release.
At
the beginning of his trip, Benedict XVI said that the Marxist ideology
"does not respond to reality" and he assured that the Church is not a
political party, but wants to help "in a spirit of dialogue" to give
life to a more just society. "
The
Pope, with great kindness and spiritual emphases, has always suggested steps for
change, based on respect for man, on his religious freedom, leaving space to
the contribution of the Christian faith in society and reconciliation.
But
Marino Murillo, vice president and head of the economy in government, immediately
quashed any doubts: "There will be no political reforms in Cuba".
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26/11/2016 11:38
