Screenshot from the Vatican Insider
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Preaching at Mass in Havana's Revolution Square, location of the headquarters of Cuba's Communist Party, Pope Benedict called for full religious freedom and greater respect for human rights on the island, reports the Catholic News Service.
"In Cuba steps have been taken to enable the church to carry out her essential mission of expressing the faith openly and publicly," the Pope said during his homily March 28. "Nonetheless, this must continue forward."
With President Raul Castro seated near the altar platform, the pontiff said: "I wish to encourage the country's government authorities to strengthen what has already been achieved and advance along this path of genuine service to the true good of Cuban society as a whole."
Separately, CNS also reports that as he prepared to Cuba at the end of a three-day pastoral visit, the pontiff made his first reference to the US embargo of the island and the embargo's impact on the country's poor.
All Cubans need to work together to build a renewed and reconciled society, but progress is difficult given a "lack of material resources, a situation which is worsened when restrictive economic measures, imposed from outside the country, unfairly burden its people," the Pope said March 28 during his official farewell ceremony. He did not mention the United States by name.
The Vatican repeatedly has criticised the US embargo as a measure that has not forced Cuba's communist government to respect human rights, but instead has had a devastating effect on the Cuban people, especially the poor.
The Pope said that peaceful coexistence requires individuals and nations to "reject immovable positions and unilateral viewpoints, which tend to make understanding more difficulty and efforts at cooperation ineffective."
"Patience and sincere dialogue" are necessary, he said.
FULL STORY
Pope, at Mass, calls for full religious freedom in Cuba (Catholic News Service)
Pope criticizes US embargo, renews call for more freedom in Cuba (Catholic News Service)
Pope bids farewell to Cuba (Independent Catholic News)
Pope hits out at US over trade embargo against Cuba (The Tablet)
The future for Cuba (The Tablet)
After this journey, the rumour about the Pope’s resignation is silenced (Vatican Insider)
PHOTO CREDIT
Screenshot from the Vatican Insider