Pope's Visit to Cuba

More than a few eyebrows were raised last week when fidel castro attended a funeral mass in Havana for the late Pope John Paul II. Here was an ex-communicated Jesuit school student who banned religion from Cuba, walking into a church to pay his respects for the Pope.

This hypocritical act made me think back to 1998 when the Pope visited Cuba. It was hoped that the Pope's visit to the communist island would help to open people's minds and spur change. "No tengan miedo". "Don't be afraid", the Pope told the people of Cuba during his stay.

Seven years later and, aside from the greater acceptance of Catholics and other Christian denominations in the island, not much has changed. The people's ability to practice their faith more freely has not lessened the regime's stranglehold. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel has a good story on this and is worth a read.