Havana, Cuba: The dialogue between Pope Benedict XVI and Army General Raúl Castro went down in history 10 years ago as part of the pastoral and official visit of the Supreme Pontiff to the Caribbean island between 26 and 28 March.
The arrival in the Antillean nation of the Holy Father took place in the year of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the image of the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, and in this way the country became one of the few in the world to receive the visit of the last three representatives of the Catholic Church.
For almost an hour at the Palace of the Revolution, the then president of the Councils of State and Ministers exchanged with Joseph Ratzinger, in a meeting that demonstrated the good state of relations between Cuba and the Vatican and the Government’s interest in continuing to strengthen links with the various religious institutions existing on the island.
The Bishop of Rome arrived in the country from Mexico on March 26 through the airport in the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba and there he thanked Raúl for the welcome of the people and the authorities.
Regarding the preparation of the visit, Eduardo Delgado, then ambassador of the Caribbean nation in the Vatican, recently referred on local television to the long days of logistical work, delivery of visas for the crew and the personnel that accompanied the Pope, as well as the general organization of the trip.
In the general balance of his agenda on the island, the meeting held with the historical leader Fidel Castro at the Apostolic Nunciature in Havana stands out, where they exchanged on ecological, cultural, scientific, religious issues and the problems facing humanity. .
In this sense, Delgado emphasized the magnetism produced in the exchange of these two personalities, dedicated to the in-depth study of these matters.
The supreme pontiff held two massive masses in the Antonio Maceo and José Martí Revolution squares, in Santiago de Cuba and Havana, respectively, in addition to honoring the Virgin of Charity in her Sanctuary in the Basilica of El Cobre.
At the end of his visit, he addressed how much the impact of the restrictive economic measures imposed by the United States government aggravates the situation of the Cuban population.
“I carry in the depths of my being each and every one of the Cubans, who have surrounded me with their prayer and affection, offering me cordial hospitality and making me a part of their deepest and most just aspirations,” he said moments before leaving. through the José Martí International Airport in the capital.
The Pope’s trip to Mexico and Cuba in 2012 was his second visit to Latin America, after the one made to Brazil in 2007.
Redacción Digital
Equipo de redactores del sitio web de Radio Mayabeque
