December 8, 2024

Pope Francis gives a Mass in Cuba amidst a painting of Che Guevara and a statue of Jesus

Unknown-40-1On September 20, 2015, I was able to watch something unique (Online). Just a day after arriving in Cuba, Pope Francis gave a mass service at Revolution Square in Havana.

As expected, the event made news around the world. The reason was obvious, it is rare to witness a mass delivered by the head of the holy Catholic Church in a communist country where there has been no freedom of religion for over 50 years.

Before this historic event took place, the government undertook a series of arrests against different opponents of the Castro regime. According to a report given by the Ladies in White, (A Group of wives and relatives of political prisoners) some of them were not even allowed to watch the mass on television.

During the ceremony, which was attended by thousands (Including Cuban dictator Raul Castro and Argentinian president Cristina Fernandez), the Pope talked about the need to “serve the people and not ideas.”

Since his arrival in Havana, the Pope has not mentioned the lack of freedom, religious persecution or human rights violations that the Cuban people have been suffering for decades under the Castro brother’s dictatorship.

This lack of criticism from Pope Francis regarding Cuba’s communist regime is no surprise. In fact, the Pope is well known for his receptiveness of Marxist Socialist leaders, especially in Latin America. Soon after Francis arrived in Havana, Raul Castro defended the communist system of the island and praised the anti-capitalist position of the high priest.

Lets not forget that Pope Francis played a crucial role in the restoration of relations between the U.S. and Cuba. However, the Pope has done nothing to address the real needs of cubans: to regain freedom and democracy after 5 decades of communist oppression. Also, Francis is opposed to the embargo enacted on the communist regime. For many, the Pope’s criticism of the capitalist system and his silence about the abuses and crimes committed in Cuba are unacceptable.

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What caught my attention the most was the fact that the Pope’s mass was celebrated in the Plaza of the Revolution, with a huge painting of the murderer Che Guevara on one side, and a statue of Jesus Christ on the other side. What an inappropriate and disrespectful setting!

Pope Francis ended the mass by saying “Please, I ask you, do not forget to pray for me.” However, it is more the desire of this writer that the Cuban people will never stop praying for the restoration of freedom and human rights taken away by the Castro brothers.

Senator Marco Rubio also joined the prayers for Cubans and said: “I pray the Pope can use his moral authority to inspire true religious freedom, and bring us closer to the day when freedom can finally take root on the island country; because only then will the people of Cuba prosper and have the opportunity to live out God’s plan.”

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