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By Martin Langfield
HAVANA, Jan 23
(Reuters) - Pope John Paul on Friday urged Cubans to build a more free and just
society even as he condemned the U.S. embargo against the communist-ruled
island.
Dishing out his criticism of Cuba and its leading ideological enemy in equal
doses, the Pontiff decried the 35-year-old embargo as "deplorable'' yet
told Cuban youth and intellectuals that their country needed more justice,
freedom and humanity, but above all Christianity.
Cuba "still needs the undying light which is Christ. Christ is the way
which leads...to a society which is more just, more free, more human, more
caring,'' the Pope said in a speech at Havana University.
The Pontiff, who had earlier led a poorly attended open-air Mass in the
central city of Camaguey, was unexpectedly met at the university by President
Fidel Castro.
"I am confident that in the future Cubans will achieve a civilization
of justice and solidarity, of freedom and truth, a civilization of love and
peace,'' John Paul said.
The Pope visited the tomb at the university of Felix Varela, a 19th-century
Roman Catholic priest honored as a precursor of Cuban independence.
Castro, who has extended an extremely warm welcome to the Pontiff on his
first visit to the island, was scheduled to meet him only three times -- on
arrival, departure and at a private meeting on Thursday.
But he unexpectedly appeared at the university before the Pope arrived. As
previously during the five-day papal visit, he was wearing a dark suit instead
of his trademark military dress.
He greeted the Pope at the entrance to the university, where Castro himself
studied, and gently guided the ailing 77-year-old Pontiff into the main hall of
the building, introducing him to officials and ministers.
Castro, 71, has urged Cubans, including Communist Party members, to turn out
for the Pope during his visit here and scoffed at the idea that the Pontiff's
trip is a threat his one-party rule.
In remarks sure to please the Cuban government, the Pontiff said in a letter
to Cuban youth: "Economic embargoes ...are always deplorable because they
hurt the most needy.''
The letter was released at the end of the Mass in Camaguey, celebrated
against a backdrop of palm-trees and Soviet style high-rise blocks.
The Pope has long opposed all economic embargoes and has previously
specifically criticized the U.S. measure against Havana, aimed at forcing
political change in the communist island 90 miles (145 km) from Florida.
Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the Pope would speak out
clearly against the embargo again before the end of his five-day tour.
The U.S. government has said it will not be eased until there is significant
political change in Cuba.
The embargo was tightened in 1996 in response to the Cuban downing of two
light planes piloted by exiles living in Miami. Four of the exiles, three of
them U.S. citizens, were killed in the incident, which Havana said occurred over
its territory and Washington says was in international airspace.
A bipartisan movement to lift or ease the embargo has been growing recently
in Washington, forcing the U.S. government to reiterate that nothing will change
without major concessions from President Fidel Castro.
The powerful Cuban exile community, based in Miami, also virulently opposes
lifting the embargo.
Opponents of the sanctions, even those critical of the Castro government,
say it has helped solidify his grip on power because it enables him to blame all
the island's economic difficulties on the embargo instead of on shortcomings of
his own policies.
Turn-out was poor in Camaguey, a city of 300,000 people 360 miles (575 km)
east of the capital, for the second Mass of the Pope's five-day visit.
Church and government officials said at most 50,000 people had showed up for
the Mass, well down from expectations of at least 150,000.
Many of those there, including atheists and Communist Party members
encouraged to attend by Castro, seemed subdued and confused about what exactly
was required of them. The crowd at one point completely failed to respond as is
customary when a priest said, "The Lord be with you.''
But there was a more enthusiastic response when the Pope, speaking from a
bright pink altar under a white canopy decorated with large green leaves, called
in his homily for young Cubans to build a new society based on freedom.
"Do not leave for tomorrow the building of a new society in which the
noblest dreams are not frustrated and in which you can be the principal agents
of your own history,'' he said.
"May Cuba raise her children in virtue and freedom so that your nation
will enjoy a future of authentic integral human development, in an environment
of lasting peace.''
Applause welled up as he uttered the words "freedom'' and "peace.''
REUTERS
05:04 01-24-98 |