The world needs reconciliation in this atmosphere of World War III in stages that we are living, said His Holiness.
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Pope Francis was greeted by Cuban President Raul Castro after he landed in Havana on Saturday, kicking off his North American tour. “The re-establishment of diplomatic relations has been a first step in the process toward normalization between both countries that is necessary for solving problems and righting injustices”, he said.
Frei Betto also described as indispensable the devolution to Cuba of the territory occupied by the United States in Guantanamo and called the attention about the upcoming Pope’s visit to the eastern province of Holguin, very near to the usa naval base of Guantanamo, antinipating a likely pronouncement of the visitor in this regard. The crowd was not as big as when St. John Paul II became the first pope to visit the island in 1998, but it drew people who seemed to genuinely want to be there and listen to Francis’ message.
In the Americas, Cuba has been the country on the periphery – at least in terms of its relations with the United States, which has been trying to squeeze the country with trade sanctions for the past five decades.
After his arrival on Saturday, he hailed improving ties between the two countries as “an example of reconciliation for the whole world”.
Pope Francis has been met with some protest but largely great enthusiasm since arriving for his historic visit to Cuba beginning Saturday. On Friday, the United States eased rules for USA citizens wishing to travel to Cuba and simplified procedures for telephone and Internet investments and money transfers to Cuba.
Some of Cuba’s leading dissidents have said they will refrain from protest during the Pope’s visit, respecting it as a religious event.
Roman Catholic Church, long identified with Cuba’s wealthier citizens, took vehemently anti-communist line shortly before Fidel Castro declared Cuba to be socialist in 1961.
Pope Francis walks next to Cuban President Raul Castro upon landing at Havana’s global airport.
Two aides steadied the pope as he climbed the stairs to the altar, and again when he descended.
After a ceremony at which a military brass band played the Cuban national anthem, Mr Castro gave his welcome before the Pope spoke.
Pope Benedict offered far more muted remarks about general prisoners in 2012.
Fresh off his personal appeal to the USA and Cuban leaders to end their half-century of estrangement, Francis issued his plea to Colombia’s warring factions from Revolution Plaza at the end of his Sunday Mass. Cuba has hosted peace talks for more than two years between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and representatives of Bogota. It is estimated that more than 100,000 people watched the Pope’s motorcade from the airport to the Havana residence where he is staying. On Sunday afternoon Francisco will have an official meeting with the Cuban president.
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“Today we renew those bonds of cooperation and friendship, so that the church can continue to support and encourage the Cuban people in their hopes and concerns, with the freedom, means and space needed” to proclaim the Gospel, especially to people on the margins of society.
