the pope called for a new and open society in cuba

SANTIAGO DE CUBA (Reuters) Рthe Pope Benedict XVI on Monday urged Cubans to build a new and open society in the Socialist country, which seeks to strengthen ties with the Government of Ra̼l Castro to boost the public role of the Church in times of change that have generated hopes and fears on the Caribbean island.

The Holy Father began a three day visit that many expect the Church to increase its power to mediate with the Communist Party, only legal on the island, on issues as sensitive as human rights, political freedoms and dissident groups.

“desire to appeal to give new vigour to their faith (…) and with the weapons of peace, forgiveness and compression, fight to build a society open and renewed, a better, more worthy of man society”, said the Bishop of Rome in a crowded homily, which began under a scorching sun and sprinkled with a light drizzle ended.

The Pope was greeted by President Castro at the airport of Santiago de Cuba under the thunderous salute of cannons and the cheers of thousands of people, in a tribute to the Virgen de la Caridad, national patron in his 400th anniversary.

The historic meeting between Pope John Paul II and former President Fidel Castro in 1998 put an end to the hostility between the two institutions since the triumph of the revolution in 1959.

Since then, the Catholic Church has become the principal interlocutor of the Government, despite the fact that the two most influential institutions of the island persisted in their visions on the future of the Socialist model conflicting.

“there are still many ways in which you can and should move forward, especially as regards the essential contribution that religion is called to play in the public sphere of society”, said the Pope, dressed in immaculate white, in his first remarks after reaching the island.

Although with fewer magnetic media that their respective predecessors, Raúl Castro and Pope Benedict XVI are seen as more pragmatic leaders and the meeting could cement a key Alliance in which the Government seeks to update the economy without giving up its Marxist ideology.

“the nation has followed invariably changing everything what should be changed in accordance with the highest aspirations of the Cuban people and with the free participation of this momentous decisions of our society,” said Castro, dressed in black suit, tie Garnet and smoky sunglasses.

Fair aspirations

84-Year-old Benedict embarked on a small tour to revive the Catholic faith against the growing momentum of popular Protestant faiths in the region. In its passage through Mexico, the Pope denounced the violence for the drug trafficking that has taken more than 50,000 lives in the past five years.

Thousands of people gave a jubilant welcome to the German Pontiff shouting and waving flags in an impressive 8 km human chain that flanqueó the Popemobile route to the Centre of Santiago, the second largest city in the country 900 kilometers east of Havana.

“Carry in my heart the just aspirations and legitimate wishes of the Cuban people wherever they are”, assured his eminence at the airport, a statement that is likely to be well received by Cuban dissidents and exiles groups in United States.

The grey sang, danced and chanted slogans in favour of the Pope before the homily and the excitement soared when arrived the Virgen de La Caridad with bouquets of flowers and his jeweled mantle, starring in the fourth exit who did the original image of the sanctuary of El Cobre, a few kilometres from Santiago.

On Tuesday, the Pope will pay tribute to the national Patron Saint, a symbol for believers and atheists on the island since it was found floating in the sea by fishermen in 1612 for more take fly to Havana to meet formally with Raúl.

It is unclear whether Benedict XVI will also meet with Fidel, of 85 years, or with the Venezuelan President, Hugo Chávez, who is in Cuba undergoing radiation therapy to combat cancer that was diagnosed last year.

, However, has no plans on his agenda receive dissidents, who had asked for a minute of your time to raise demands for greater political freedom and respect for human rights in the country.

Las Damas de Blanco, a group of Catholic women calling for the release of political prisoners, said that the authorities will show you a Cuba “which does not exist” and claim that they have forbidden manifested during the visit of the Pontiff.

/Por Nelson Acosta /