The Pontiff said he had come as a pilgrim of charity, and would pray for peace, liberty and reconciliation. He also expressed sympathy for the “just aspirations” of all Cuban people, wherever they were. Later, Pope Benedict celebrated mass with tens of thousands of people in Santiago‘s Revolution Square.
President Castro was among those attending the service.
In his speech at the airport, President Castro said socialist Cuba allowed full freedom of religion and enjoyed good relations with the Catholic Church.
He said Cuba shared the Pope’s concerns over global poverty, inequality and environmental destruction. Moreover, he stressed that Cuba was determined to defend its independence in the face of the US embargo.
His visit to Santiago coincides with the 400th anniversary of Cuba‘s patron saint, the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre, which he cited as the main reason for his trip to the island. He will go to Havana later this week and hold private talks with President Castro.
Church officials have said there is no time in his schedule to meet dissidents. Opposition groups say dozens of dissidents were detained ahead of the visit, and others were prevented from attending the service in Santiago.
Pope Benedict’s trip to Cuba follows a visit to Mexico, where he celebrated a huge open-air Mass at the Christ the King monument in the central city of Silao.
(아주경제 앤드류 이 기자)
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com