Cuba Urged to Grant More Religious Freedom

Vatican City: December 11, 2009, (PCTV Newsdesk)

Benedict XV appealed to the Cubangovernment that it continue to grant more and more religious liberty forits citizens, while acknowledging that many positive steps have been takenin recent years.The Pope said this today upon receiving the letters of credence of thenation's new ambassador to the Holy See, Eduardo Delgado Bermudez. In theaddress he expressed the hope that "concrete signs of openness to theexercise of religious liberty will continue to multiply, as has beenhappening in recent years."

Among these gestures he highlighted "the opportunity to celebrate HolyMass in some prisons, the carrying out of religious processions, the repairand devolution of some churches and the construction of some religioushouses, and the possibility to count on social security for priests andreligious."

In this connection, he pointed out the opportunity of coming to anagreement on relations between Cuba and the Holy See, which "definessuitably existing relations, never interrupted, between the Holy See andCuba, and which guarantees the adequate development of the life andpastoral action of the Church in that nation."

The Holy Father wished to highlight the social work that the Church iscarrying out in Cuba, especially at this time of economic crisis, "such asthe greater cooperation achieved with the authorities that has permittedthe realization of important projects of aid and reconstruction, especiallyon the occasion of natural disasters."

This incipient climate of collaboration "has made it possible for theChurch to make her modest charitable contribution," by undertaking"numerous initiatives of social aid that, though of reduced dimensions,reach many sick, elderly and handicapped people," said Benedict XVI.

"I trust moreover that this climate will also favor her participation inthe means of social communication and in carrying out complementaryeducational tasks, in keeping with her specific pastoral and spiritualmission," he added.

Marian devotion

The Holy Father wished to stress the importance of the forthcomingcelebration, in 2012, of the 4th centenary of the discovery of the image ofthe Virgin of Charity of Cobre, patron of Cuba.

"This beloved Marian advocate is a luminous symbol of the religiosity ofthe Cuban people and of the Christian roots of their culture," he said,pointing out that the Church "is the depository of an extraordinaryspiritual and moral patrimony which has contributed to forge the Cuban soulin a decisive way, giving it its own character and personality."

Stressing the separation of Church and State, the Pontiff let it beunderstood that greater liberty in Christians' activity would redound tothe benefit of the country.

He said that "the principal service that the Church offers Cubans is theproclamation of Jesus Christ and his message of love, forgiveness andreconciliation in the truth. A people who follows this path of concord is apeople with hope in a better future."

Benedict XVI also pointed out that "all men and women, and especiallyyoung people, need today, as in any other age, to rediscover those moral,human and spiritual values, as for example respect for life from conceptionto its natural end, which make man's life more worthy."

Human capital

In regard to the economic crisis, the Pope urgently requested "an economythat, built on solid ethical bases, places the person and his rights andhis material and spiritual good, at the center of its interests."

"In fact, the first capital that must be safeguarded and saved is man, theperson in his integrity," he added.

In this context, Benedict XVI acknowledged the importance of Cuba'sprocess of opening to the rest of the world, and especially "the signs ofrelaxation in its relations with its neighbor the United States," which"would presage new opportunities for a mutually beneficial rapprochement,in full respect of the sovereignty and the right of the States and of theircitizens."

"Cuba, which continues to offer numerous countries its collaboration invital areas such as literacy and health, thus fosters internationalcooperation and solidarity, without the latter being subordinate tointerests other than aid itself to needy populations," he said.

"It is to be hoped," the Pontiff added, "that all of this might contributeto make a reality the appeal that my venerated predecessor, Pope John PaulII, launched in his historic trip to the Island: that Cuba open itself withall its magnificent possibilities to the world, and that the world open toCuba."

News source: www.zenit.org