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| Cuba: ‘I hope Pope Francis can promote peace among us’ | Cuba: ‘I hope Pope Francis can promote peace among us’ |
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| The saints and martyrs in Havana Cathedral have been newly gilded, the road markings repainted and hundreds of thousands of Cuban and Vatican plastic flags handed out to the public as the island of revolution counts down to the arrival of Pope Francis. | The saints and martyrs in Havana Cathedral have been newly gilded, the road markings repainted and hundreds of thousands of Cuban and Vatican plastic flags handed out to the public as the island of revolution counts down to the arrival of Pope Francis. |
| Related: Did Fidel Castro predict the thaw in US-Cuba relations more than 40 years ago? | Related: Did Fidel Castro predict the thaw in US-Cuba relations more than 40 years ago? |
| The papal visit to Cuba, which starts on Saturday afternoon local time and will be followed by a trip to the US, marks the start of one of the most politically loaded tours ever taken by a religious leader. From Havana’s Revolution Square to the US Congress, the White House and the United Nations headquarters, Francis will underscore his growing reputation as a powerbroker as well as a charismatic theologian. | The papal visit to Cuba, which starts on Saturday afternoon local time and will be followed by a trip to the US, marks the start of one of the most politically loaded tours ever taken by a religious leader. From Havana’s Revolution Square to the US Congress, the White House and the United Nations headquarters, Francis will underscore his growing reputation as a powerbroker as well as a charismatic theologian. |
| Although the Vatican stresses that the pope’s primary goal is to spread a Christian message of love and peace, another key aim is to nurture the rapprochement between the former cold war enemies who restored diplomatic relations this year after a Vatican-brokered deal. | Although the Vatican stresses that the pope’s primary goal is to spread a Christian message of love and peace, another key aim is to nurture the rapprochement between the former cold war enemies who restored diplomatic relations this year after a Vatican-brokered deal. |
| “He works hard to be a bridge and to facilitate good relations between countries,” said Jorge Serpa, the bishop of Pinar del Rio. “Undoubtedly the rupture between Cuba and the United States was not good. The pope’s role was crucial because he encouraged both sides to enter into dialogue. But the really decisive thing was the change in the mentalities of the leaders and the people.” | “He works hard to be a bridge and to facilitate good relations between countries,” said Jorge Serpa, the bishop of Pinar del Rio. “Undoubtedly the rupture between Cuba and the United States was not good. The pope’s role was crucial because he encouraged both sides to enter into dialogue. But the really decisive thing was the change in the mentalities of the leaders and the people.” |
| Underscoring the political significance, the presidents of the two nations, Raúl Castro and Barack Obama, talked by phone on the eve of the visit. The White House said the leaders – both of whom the pope will meet, along with the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, and probably the former Cuban leader Fidel Castro – commended the pope’s role in “advancing relations between our countries”. | Underscoring the political significance, the presidents of the two nations, Raúl Castro and Barack Obama, talked by phone on the eve of the visit. The White House said the leaders – both of whom the pope will meet, along with the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, and probably the former Cuban leader Fidel Castro – commended the pope’s role in “advancing relations between our countries”. |
| They also discussed future steps to ease tensions after announcements on Friday that the US will loosen restrictions on travel to Cuba. From Monday, controls will also be eased on money transfers to Cuba, telephone communications and internet business. Before the visit, Cuba released 3,522 prisoners. | They also discussed future steps to ease tensions after announcements on Friday that the US will loosen restrictions on travel to Cuba. From Monday, controls will also be eased on money transfers to Cuba, telephone communications and internet business. Before the visit, Cuba released 3,522 prisoners. |
| The pope’s comments over the coming week will be closely monitored. Both sides of the historical divide hope Francis will press their case further. Many Cubans want him to call more strongly for an end to the US embargo, while dissident groups and anti-government exiles in Florida have urged him to speak out against restrictions on freedom of speech and worship on the island. | The pope’s comments over the coming week will be closely monitored. Both sides of the historical divide hope Francis will press their case further. Many Cubans want him to call more strongly for an end to the US embargo, while dissident groups and anti-government exiles in Florida have urged him to speak out against restrictions on freedom of speech and worship on the island. |
| Many Catholics on the island prefer to stress the progress they have witnessed. The communist government has given the church far more scope to promote the papal visit than in the past. | Many Catholics on the island prefer to stress the progress they have witnessed. The communist government has given the church far more scope to promote the papal visit than in the past. |
| “Now is a good moment,” said Yenkys Gonzalez, a 40-year-old film-maker who is making a documentary about efforts to reach out to potential believers. “When I was younger, it would have been a lot more complicated to do something like this. It could still be better, but the situation has improved a lot. It’s more open.” | “Now is a good moment,” said Yenkys Gonzalez, a 40-year-old film-maker who is making a documentary about efforts to reach out to potential believers. “When I was younger, it would have been a lot more complicated to do something like this. It could still be better, but the situation has improved a lot. It’s more open.” |
| Related: Cuban Catholics hope Pope Francis's visit will be a rock to build church on | Related: Cuban Catholics hope Pope Francis's visit will be a rock to build church on |
| Gonzalez said he wanted the pope to speak his mind, to help the government to appreciate the social work done by the church, and to reverse the dwindling attendance at Sunday services. | Gonzalez said he wanted the pope to speak his mind, to help the government to appreciate the social work done by the church, and to reverse the dwindling attendance at Sunday services. |
| “I hope the pope can promote peace and reconciliation among Cubans because our country has suffered a lot. At one time, some people couldn’t come to church because they were in the military or the [Communist] party. The pope should tell people that we can all live in peace. That’ll make the government realise the church isn’t against the government but is interested in improving Cuban society.” | “I hope the pope can promote peace and reconciliation among Cubans because our country has suffered a lot. At one time, some people couldn’t come to church because they were in the military or the [Communist] party. The pope should tell people that we can all live in peace. That’ll make the government realise the church isn’t against the government but is interested in improving Cuban society.” |
| Ronald Viñas, a 20-year-old evangelist, has spent every evening of the past week in a Catholic youth group that has been singing, dancing and spreading the gospel in Havana’s parks. | Ronald Viñas, a 20-year-old evangelist, has spent every evening of the past week in a Catholic youth group that has been singing, dancing and spreading the gospel in Havana’s parks. |
| “We’re trying to get those who don’t believe in God and those from other religions to come and listen to Francis’s message,” he said. “I hope the visit will make a difference among the young, among students who all seem to have the mentality that they should leave the country as soon as they have finished studying. I hope the pope gives people the message that we can make Cuba a better place.” | “We’re trying to get those who don’t believe in God and those from other religions to come and listen to Francis’s message,” he said. “I hope the visit will make a difference among the young, among students who all seem to have the mentality that they should leave the country as soon as they have finished studying. I hope the pope gives people the message that we can make Cuba a better place.” |
| Senior figures in the church say the pope is visiting as a missionary with a message that he, as a Spanish-speaking Argentinian, should be able to communicate easily to the Cuban people. | Senior figures in the church say the pope is visiting as a missionary with a message that he, as a Spanish-speaking Argentinian, should be able to communicate easily to the Cuban people. |
| Related: Pope Francis's visit to Cuba: share your photos and videos | |
| Before the pope’s arrival, the sense of anticipation in Havana was growing. Ildefonso Alsina, a bongo player in a son trio, was palpably excited. “It’s awesome to be visited by God’s representative on Earth. It’s an amazing thing. We’ll see more changes here,” he said. “To have a Latin pope is good for the world. It’s telling that he came here before the United States.” | Before the pope’s arrival, the sense of anticipation in Havana was growing. Ildefonso Alsina, a bongo player in a son trio, was palpably excited. “It’s awesome to be visited by God’s representative on Earth. It’s an amazing thing. We’ll see more changes here,” he said. “To have a Latin pope is good for the world. It’s telling that he came here before the United States.” |
| He was speaking in the plaza outside the cathedral, which is draped with banners declaring “Bienvenido Papa Francisco” (Welcome Pope Francis). | He was speaking in the plaza outside the cathedral, which is draped with banners declaring “Bienvenido Papa Francisco” (Welcome Pope Francis). |
| The cathedral has now had three makeovers for papal visits. Before the visit of John Paul II in 1998, the wooden chairs for the choir were restored. For Benedict XVI’s visit in 2012, the image of the immaculate virgin was repainted. Now for Francis, the entire facade has been cleaned, there are new altar lamps and the reliefs have been painted gold. | The cathedral has now had three makeovers for papal visits. Before the visit of John Paul II in 1998, the wooden chairs for the choir were restored. For Benedict XVI’s visit in 2012, the image of the immaculate virgin was repainted. Now for Francis, the entire facade has been cleaned, there are new altar lamps and the reliefs have been painted gold. |
| But not everyone was excited. Evelin Pacheco Achón, an employee of the Colonial Art Museum who said she had no religion, said the papal visit was bad for business because the government cancelled all other flights this weekend. “It’s nothing special. This is the third papal visit we have had,” she said, adding dryly: “We must be a very important country.” | But not everyone was excited. Evelin Pacheco Achón, an employee of the Colonial Art Museum who said she had no religion, said the papal visit was bad for business because the government cancelled all other flights this weekend. “It’s nothing special. This is the third papal visit we have had,” she said, adding dryly: “We must be a very important country.” |