On his first day in Cuba, images of joy and beauty inspired by Pope Benedict XVI’s pilgrimage to the island were offset by sinister, controlling gestures from the Cuban regime.
And just below the surface roils a culture clash, a weltanschauung face-off, pitting two comprehensive philosophies of the universe against each other: Christianity vs. communism.
From the Pope’s first hour in Cuba, the afternoon of March 26, observers could sense the deep contrast.
The Holy Father, dazzling in white from head to ankle, projecting his typically humble demeanor, was met by the intense visage of President Raul Castro in a business suit and rose-tinted sunglasses.
Twenty-one old cannons punctuated the blazing day with a salute that was too close for comfort; an honor guard goose-stepped across the worn tarmac in a vaguely anachronistic military greeting.
Referencing the historical visit of Blessed John Paul II to Cuba 14 years ago, the Pope credited his predecessor with initiating a new phase of cooperation between Church and state on the island, while calling for “greater progress” in the future, especially regarding “the indispensable public contribution that religion is called to make in the life of society.”
The Pope described progress as requiring “an ethics which focuses on the human person” as opposed to the self-described needs of the state and its rulers.
He aligned himself, several times, with the aspirations of “all Cubans, wherever they may be,” for justice, peace, liberty and reconciliation. With more than 2 million Cubans comprising an active diaspora, most living in the United States, the Church has long emphasized reconciliation to defy physical separation and reduce animosity.
For his part, President Castro railed against the 50-year-old U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, a Cold War policy the Cuban leadership has blamed for most of its own economic failure.
He also testily assured the Pope that Cuba is already “changing all that needs to be changed” — thank you very much.
A few hours later, the Pope arrived in Antonio Maceo Revolution Square to offer Mass on the Solemnity of the Annunciation before at least 200,000 people.
The plaza was a welcoming sea of radiant people. Ecstatic crowds of jubilant Cubans surged to embrace the popemobile.
Pope Benedict made his way to a delicate marine-blue-and-white altar structure under arches that created a giant “M” for Mary. Behind the altar, a 50-foot sculpture of a 19th-century independence leader on a rearing horse (facing 23 massive machetes) created a dramatic backdrop.
A local choir of enthusiastic singers and musicians animated the assembly.
But just before doves were released from the altar to start Mass, a young man in a baseball cap who began shouting “Down with Communism!” and “Freedom!” in Spanish was tackled by plainclothes security.
As authorities hustled the protester away, a burly man in a Red Cross T-shirt was caught on film slapping the man, then beating him over the head with a pole.
There were other disturbing signs: Erratic Twitter posts reported that some regime opponents were forcibly blocked from attending the Mass.
The state entity that controls electronic communication on the island decided to restrict Internet access and SMS capability until March 29 — after the Pope departs Cuba.
And unlike most open-air Masses in cities around the world, there were no jumbo screens, meaning that few participants could even see the Pope, let alone participate in the liturgy.
So the somber Mass in Santiago de Cuba unfolded, led by a clearly exhausted Holy Father. His homily was a serious catechism on the significance of the Annunciation, honoring family, commitment and, of course, the Blessed Mother.
He acknowledged the many daily challenges facing Cuban families struggling to survive under stress and in dismal living conditions, which affect almost everyone, outside the ruling elite.
Pope Benedict ended with a forward-looking vision aimed at the island’s souls: “I appeal to you to reinvigorate your faith, that you may live in Christ and for Christ, and armed with peace, forgiveness and understanding, that you may strive to build a renewed and open society, a better society, one more worthy of humanity and which better reflects the goodness of God.”
Then scores of neatly dressed believers received Communion from the Pope’s delicate hands.
Above, everyone gazed the diminutive 400-year-old figurine of Our Lady of Charity, whose jubilee anniversary provided reason for the papal visit.
And in her honor, the Pope ended the liturgy by bestowing on her a golden rose, an ancient Catholic tradition and the 12th golden rose Benedict has given. In this case, it seemed to reward the Marian image for receiving countless prayers and tears throughout the years.
The golden rose also honors the Cuban people, since the miraculous icon is their patroness.
As the Holy Father turned from Our Lady, he was seized by Raul Castro, who had hurtled up steep steps to meet the Pope on the altar.
It was as though the president had awkwardly, and against any protocol, injected himself into the Mass.
Like a theatrical producer eager to garner kudos for a successful performance, Raul demonstrated that he intends to take credit — and try to control — every aspect of the Pope’s time on the island.
Pope Benedict overnighted in a priestly residence in the foothills of the Sierra Maestro Mountains, where the basilica of El Cobre holds Our Lady of Charity. He will pray in the shrine this morning before flying to Havana, where he meets in the afternoon with, once again, Raul Castro.
Register correspondent Victor Gaetan writes from Washington.
He received the 2011 Catholic Press Association’s top award for a Register series on Cuba.
Benjamin Wiker: Benedict XVI: Doctor of the Church
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Our Father. who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name.Your kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trepasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
As I watch the programing of the Holy Father’s visit to Mexico and Cuba, I give thanks to God for the freedom we still have in this country to worship as we please. I pray everyday for the people in other countries who are suffering for their faith. I hope that I would have the courage to suffer if I was asked too. Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, help those who suffer daily for their faith.
As a Catholic of Cuban descent, the Church’s dealing with Cuba is painful to watch.
It’s in large part because of my Catholic faith that I understand freedom is as important to our fulfillment of God’s will and our ability to become closer to Him as any of our physical needs—and neither one should be sought at the expense of the other.
When there is epidemic, where is the Church? At the operating table. When there is famine, doesn’t the Church take to baking bread? And where there is war, the Church makes peace.
But somehow, where there is tyranny… where people are not free to become the authors of their own destinies (and of their own relationships with God, their families and their neighbors… that is, with the whole of the Church and the human family), the Church seems intent to take less direct approaches. If I… If we… can’t turn to the Church for clear leadership on these less tangible moral imperatives… if the Church can’t stand up directly (peacefully, of course) to a tyrant who not only banned Catholic celebrations, but replaced them with celebrations of himself…
Well… then to whom are we supposed to turn for that leadership?
At one time, Fidel Castro’s regime literally directed school teachers to instruct their students to close their eyes and pray to God for candy. When they opened their eyes and there was no candy, those children were instructed to pray to Fidel. Of course, the candy appeared.
Even now, Raul is literally inserting himself into a Mass. Never missing an opportunity to remind the people of what who that tiny island’s “real” almighty is.
And the message from the Vatican is one of “reconciliation”? I understand and appreciate that the Church isn’t about to ask people to take up arms. But this is also not a system with which I or any Catholic should be prepared to reconcile. Any and all compromise should be coming from the regime. And to demand anything less is un-Christ-like.
After all, Jesus himself went absolutely bananas and flipped over tables over far less than the Cuban regime has done.
The government of Osama was overthrown, the government of Libya was overthrown. And as my priest said, those over 30 remember when Germany was two countries. Even the mighty USSR eventually was divided.
It’s time the people of Cuba overthrows the Castro regime and take a stand, we really should help them do this. Never mind the Middle East (which right now is a lost cause).
There were many in the audience whom I wished would come to the US to live.
Reading these events, I now ralize that we Filipinos (of the Philippines) are so much blessed to live in a country where we are free to live our faith to the fullest. I now have to include in my daily prayers for people in other countries who are suffereing because of their faith.
I pray that the Holy Father safely finishes his visit there and can get some rest upon return to the Vatican. What a blessing he is to not only us who are blessed and fortunate enough to be Catholic, but to all the world as well. God Bless you Pope Benedict!!!
The conflict of worldviews in Cuba are the same here in the United States,
especially this year. We are being give the opportunity to serve God or the
State.. With any choice there are consequences (Sirach 15:14-17).
Who do we wish to serve, God or the State (Socialism/Marxism)?
Pope John Paul ll said it well, ” We are living in the greatest historical
confrontation that humanity has faced.. The battle is between the church/anti-church; the gospel/anti-gospel. The spirit of the anti-christ is making itself known throughout the world to confront Jesus Himself
Praise the Lord for sending Pope Benedict XVI to Cuba. I pray that his presence and all the prayers being offered up would lead to greater freedom, and that with that freedom people can worship the Lord without restrictions.
Congratulations on working the word “weltanschauung” into your article! It took me 35 years after college to work it into a conversation!
The Church has seen many emporers come and go. Castro seems a larger-than-life figure in our own transient view of history, and Marxism a larger-than-life threat, but they too shall fade away. In a thousand years, (should the Lord tarry, to use an old Protestant expression), Catro will be a minor footnote in a history textbook causing pain to students in a Cuban classroom, and the Church will still be trucking along in all its divine glory and human ineptitude.
Nicolás A. Jiménez,
Don’t lose faith, my brother! There is evil everywhere - some in more places than others. There is injustice everywhere, too. But, that’s more the reason WHY the Pope needs to visit: to address the spiritual hunger. It’s often been said that Jesus came for the poor - materially and spiritually. So, who better than the Successor of Peter to carry that responsibilty. When people are suffering - whether here or elsewhere - it’s easy to lost hope and - worse - to place out hope in something or somebody else OTHER THAN Jesus. The focus of atheistic systems like Communism is that it wants people dependent on them and for the people to put their faith, hope, and trust in the governement - the State, not God. By starving you, I can control you and make you dependent on me. That’s the Communist mentality. But, we cannot put any of our needs before God - not even our physical needs. Remember He gave mana to the Isrealites in the desert. And Jesus is the New Mana. Don’t forget that the Church’s primary mission is to save souls - not just feed the hungry. Think of this: Would you rather live starving and never know Jesus, or would you rather die of starvation with the love of Christ?
The clash of Christianity vs Communism, the Christ and anti-christ. Mexico and Cuba are truly blessed with the visit of our Holy Father the Pope.
It is all rather simple. As the past pope spoke after the rise of Communism in Russia, Pope Pius XI said that “Communism has behind it occult forces which for a ling time have been working for the overthrow of the Christian Social Order….” This was written in 1937. That allowed the Pontiff nearly 20 years of watching what Communism was about, how it behaved.
With that hint, it is no wonder that the Communist State acts as if it were directed by forces from below. St. Paul referred to such warfare.
Simply put it is Satan doing battle against Christ and what he established.
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