But in shying from meetings with dissidents, the pope is hewing largely to the Cuban Catholic Church’s strategy of advocating for change within bounds laid out by the communist state rather than pushing the system to change as John Paul II did in Eastern Europe. Asked if the pope knew of the controversy surrounding Blessed Serra and his treatment of the native peoples of California, Father Lombardi said the pope is very familiar with debates over “evangelization and colonization”, debates which are similar in areas settled by the Spanish.
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The city’s science museum already was hosting a blockbuster exhibit of Lego sculptures and preparing to unveil a huge display of Holy See treasures for the pope’s visit when administrators got a… But some longtime observers of Francis said it is clear he sees the visit as many Cubans do – as the second stage of his role in midwifing normal relations between Washington and Havana.
John Paul II called for greater respect for human rights during the first papal visit to Cuba in 1998, a historic trip that symbolized a nascent rapprochement between the Church and the one-time atheist state. Castro, 84, took over from his ailing brother Fidel provisionally in 2006 and definitively in 2008. If they do not plant the seed of leadership in others, they are worthless.
While the pope values the social achievements of Cuba’s revolution such as free universal health care and education, he has staunchly criticized its decades of repression.
Cuba must to do more than these fake gestures of prisoner releases and offer up real, and permanent, human-rights reform.
The pope feels the half century of hostility between the US and Cuba polarized the politics of Latin America, forcing people to choose between Washington’s and Havana’s visions for the region, Ivereigh said.
Pope Francis said God reached out in a special way to women when he told the serpent in the garden that “I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers”, and she will always strike at serpents.
“Let us work then to repel everything that makes light of marriage; every form of injustice and inequality, especially toward women”, he said.
Vatican officials are cautioning that the pope’s mission is pastoral, not political, saying people should expect no explicit diplomatic message. “The goodwill of the pope is one thing; what the Cuban government is able to allow is another”.
A correct vision and culture of the family are necessary for defending the world from many threats, he said in his catechesis.
“Inside, the ceilings are in bad shape, but at least they gave it a coat of paint and it looks better”, he said. These political prisoners include Vaclev Havel Award winning graffiti artist, Danilo Maldonado Machado “El Sexto”, who has been unjustly imprisoned, without trial, since last December for little more than attempting an artistic performance.
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However, despite the stain of original sin, “we are not cursed or left to fend for ourselves”, the pope said.
