"If the Pope continues to speak like this, sooner or later I will start praying again…" Raùl Castro.
«Si le pape continue à parler ainsi, un jour je recommencerai à prier et retournerai à l'Église catholique. Et je ne le dis pas pour plaisanter». Raùl Castro.
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."If the Pope continues to speak like this, sooner or later I will start praying again and I will return to the Catholic Church and I'm not saying this jokingly." Raùl Castro.
These words were pronounced on May 10th, during a meeting between the Cuban president and pope Francis. When we read the news coming from Cuba in the past couple of years, it is clear that we are witnessing the increasing openness of the Cuban government.
We can recall that as soon as the revolutionary movement of Fidel Castro took office, in 1959, hundreds of faithful and people refractory to the movement were incarcerated or deported. In 1965, the Communist Party of Cuba is founded and any religious activity is officially banned. Thousands of Cubans leave the country for the United States, fleeing these various repressions.
However, with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, at the beginning of the 90’s, Cuba begins a much-needed economic reform, since almost 80% of Cuba’s foreign trade is with the Eastern bloc. With this reform, certain disciplinary measures are lightened and openness to faith progresses. As of 1991, Castro officially declared that the country is no longer “atheist” but is now “secular”. From now on, believers are admitted into the party.
In 1998, John Paul II accepted Fidel Castro’s invitation to visit Cuba. In a preparatory meeting, without any other introduction, Castro spontaneously asks Joaquin Navarro-Valls, the pope’s spokesperson: “Tell me about the pope!”. Navarro-Vall answered “Mister President, I envy you.” “Why?” “Because the pope prays for you every day. He prays so that a man of your experience may find a way to come back to God.” The conversation lasted more than seven hours. In Havana, the pope declared, in the presence of Fidel Castro, that a state cannot use atheism as a basis for its politics. "The state […] should encourage a harmonious social climate and suitable legislation which enables every person and every religious confession to live their faith freely" (2). In the wake of this visit, 250 political prisoners are released.
Raùl Castro
For his part, Raùl Castro, officially elected president in 2008, allowed a large pilgrimage to the Virgin of Charity to take place across the whole island in 2010. He welcomed Benedict XVI in 2012 in a cordial and open atmosphere. In his speech, the pope challenged the Cuban regime to allow the Church to play a role within its society.
Freedom of speech and information is still not attained: only official medias are authorized and internet is closely monitored. For its part, the “Office of Religious Affairs” monitors all activities and allows funding for only some of them. However, this gradual openness towards religion demonstrated by the Cuban government, to which John-Paul II and Benedict XVI participated, seems to continue with Francis.
In fact, on September 19th, on the occasion of the 8th World Meeting of Families Congress in Philadelphia, Francis will visit Cuba. This upcoming meeting with Raùl Castro and the possible repercussions are without a doubt something to entrust to Joseph. On this day, I will pray the IMPACT J prayer to this intention. Join me!
Pierrette Roy
