Havana (Reuters) – the Pope Benedict XVI called on Wednesday in his farewell from Cuba to the limitation of the fundamental freedoms in the Island is not obstacle to achieve a change in the island and returned to criticize the embargo United States maintains against the Socialist Government from five decades.
After a visit of three days to the Caribbean country, Sumo Pontiff requested “a Cuba of all and for all, banishing the positions fixed to achieve a great national reconciliation at a time when the nation lives their greatest moment of transformation since the triumph of the revolution in 1959.
“It is possible to build a broad horizons, renewed and reconciled society.” “That no one is prevented from joining this exciting task by limiting their freedoms fundamental, nor exempted it by laziness or lack of material resources”, said the Bishop of Rome at the airport.
In addition, the Holy Father called the end of the embargo that Washington imposed on the country 50 years ago to overthrow his ideological enemy, to compound the difficult economic situation and “weigh negatively on population”.
Since his arrival to Santiago de Cuba on Monday, the Pope has insisted that the Government of Raúl Castró will need the help of the Church in the search for new ways and models to deal with “smooth” transformations to come.
The Cuban representative thanked Pope Benedict XVI for a visit that has passed in an atmosphere of “mutual understanding” in which found “many and deep” matches despite disagree on all tracks.
“his meeting with the Cuban people has given the opportunity to better understand and observe the fairness of our purposes”, said prior to shake hands of the Pontiff when he climbed the aircraft to leave the country under a persistent rain.
The voyage of the Catholic hierarch crowned a long way in improving the Government’s relations with the Church, which has become the main partner of the authorities on sensitive human rights and political freedoms.
, However, despite the references more or less veiled political prisoners, exiles and the urgency of changes in greater depth in the Caribbean nation, the Catholic leader did not receive dissidents on the island, accused by the Government of being mercenaries in the pay of United States.
Authentic freedom
In the morning, the Holy Father wrote a multitudinous mass in the mythical Plaza de la Revolución, which called to seek the “real freedom” to create a more open society.
“there are others who interpret this search for the truth, leading them to the irrationality and fanaticism, locking is evil in ' its really ' and trying to impose it on others”, said from the same pulpit where Fidel, sheathed in olive green, arengaba his compatriots with lit revolutionary speeches.
Dressed in a purple toga, the German Pope toured the main arteries of the capital aboard the Popemobile, hailed by some 300,000 Cubans protected unforgiving Sun of the Caribbean caps and visors of cardboard with umbrellas looking for receive the blessing of the Bishop of Rome.
“The Pope will return the faith many.” “Here in Cuba economic difficulties overwhelm us both that dreams are somewhat affected”, said José Correa, exhibiting proud three crucifixes in his chest in a country which was officially atheistic and anti-clerical until 1992.
Flanked by imposing effigies of the Argentine guerrilla Ernesto “Che” Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos rebel, Pope Benedict XVI reiterated the need that the Government open more public space to the Church, including the possibility of “soon” take his teachings to schools and universities.
“Necessary move forward (and) strengthen already reached and advance along this path of genuine service to the common good of the entire Cuban society”, said to highlight the growing consolidation of the Church-State Alliance “joyfully”.
On Tuesday, the Holy Father held a “cordial” meeting with Raul Castro, who took power following the resignation of his brother in 2008 for health reasons.
His Holiness would have made a “humanitarian order” Castro, according to reported the Vatican, which many interpreted as a request to release political prisoners or the American contractor Alan Gross, sentenced to 15 years to install connections Internet considered illegal on the island.
Also requested to restore the holiday good Friday, in a gesture similar to which took Fidel with the late Pope John Paul II to reinstate the Christmas before his historic visit in 1998.
MARXISTS and Christians
One of the most anticipated moments of the trip was the encounter between Pope Benedict XVI and Fidel Castro, who met for half an hour in the Apostolic Nunciature of Havana.
Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman said it was a serene and cordial meeting which discussed the problems facing humanity and the liturgy of the Church. They even joked about his age and the charismatic rebel asked him what is the job of the Pope.
The reception was a boost to consolidate the key alliance between the Catholic Church and the Government, which drives a series of reforms to modernise the economy without giving up the socialist ideology, expanding entrepreneurship private areas previously reserved to the State, such as tourism and hospitality.
The visit generated different reactions among the population. Some believe that the Pope will help to put an end to the economic blockade of Washington, others that will boost the political changes and the majority that rekindle the faith after decades of anti-clericalism and proliferation of the Afro-Cuban Santeria.
“We know that Cuba must change and what we are doing. but when will change United States, with its blockade which drowns us?” “I hope Benedict has something to say to them also”, said Maritza Alvarez, a used State 40 years waited since dawn to take a place in the first rows.
But expectations that the presence of the Catholic hierarch gave way to an opening on sensitive issues as human rights and civil liberties was cut from full by the Executive, which made clear once again that the changes do not affect the single-party political system.
“In Cuba there will be political reform”, said blunt Tuesday Marino Murillo, one of the Cuban Vice-Presidents and supervisor of economic transformations.
In response, the spokesman of his Holiness, said: “The Church seeks not to impose solutions.” “We know that there is a long way and that the story of Cuba is complex”.
/Por enrique Andres pretzel and Nelson Acosta /
