Pope's visit of Communist Cuba

[hellheaven1987]

And you bet it, Benedict is going to meet Castro the Atheist Communist today, probably is going to have a debt about the existence of God or whatever.

Pope Benedict is in the Cuban capital Havana, where he is to meet President Raul Castro on the second day of his visit to the communist-run island.

There have been suggestions that he could also meet Raul's brother, former President Fidel Castro.

The pope prayed before a statue of the country's patron saint, and told a crowd he prayed for a Cuba "advancing along the ways of renewal and hope".

Cuban officials insist that political reform is not on the agenda.

Marino Murillo, one of Castro's vice-presidents and the "economics czar" in charge of liberalisation, told journalists the government was updating the Cuban economic model to make socialism sustainable.

"There will be no political reform in Cuba," he added.

The pope's visit marks the 400th anniversary of the discovery of a statue of the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre - also known as the Mambisa Virgin - which was found floating in a bay by fishermen. It was revered by Cuba's independence heroes.

Source

Either way, this visit probably means Cuba is partially abandoned their communism policies. As some of you may remember, Cuba has taken quite a number of steps to reform its government to something closer as China, which brings the question how far Cuba is willing to reform itself and whether US should stop its paranoia about a Communist neighbour by lifting the economical punishments it imposes on Cuba.

[s.rwitt]

Of course the US needs to drop the sanctions. And I think we will after Castro dies.

[Heathen Hammer]

I'd love to see Castro destroy Pope on a debate on god's existence.

[Spike]

I'd love to see Castro destroy Pope on a debate on god's existence.

actually I wonder more about Castro family make political stunts by converting back to Catholicism in front of the Pope...

... in hope of USA lift the embargoes

[NotYetRegistered]

I'd love to see Castro destroy Pope on a debate on god's existence.

In a country full of Catholics ...

[Dr. Croccer]

I'd love to see Castro destroy Pope on a debate on god's existence.

A bit hypocritical of him, considering that he has even sillier beliefs.

Also, political suicide.

[Emilio Aguinaldo]

A bit hypocritical of him, considering that he has even sillier beliefs.

Also, political suicide.

When did Communists start defending sanctioned pedofilia?

[Rolling Thunder]

I'd love to see Castro destroy Pope on a debate on god's existence.

Because I'm sure he's never had to defend that particular argument from anyone as talented as Castro's idiot younger brother.

When did Communists start defending sanctioned pedofilia?

Possibly around the time the Catholics established Gulags.

[Prosaic Visitant]

Cuba is steadily becoming capitalist anyway; dropping sanctions will only increase this. But good luck dropping sanctions with the Cuban emigre political lobby.

US should stop its paranoia about a Communist neighbour by lifting the economical punishments it imposes on Cuba.

Paranoia isn't the right word; this is business that was never wholly reevaluated since the imposition of sanctions. Plus, there is political appeal for maintaining sanctions (Cuban-American votes and making life hard for Chavez by troubling his main ally).

[Border Patrol]

Still, Cuba has major potential to be an economic power. Look at their state of affairs before WW2. Sanctions being lifted might be politically difficult given the massive voice Florida has, but reintegrating Cuba into the North American economy would be massively beneficial to the region as a whole.

[Thorn777]

Still, Cuba has major potential to be an economic power. Look at their state of affairs before WW2. Sanctions being lifted might be politically difficult given the massive voice Florida has, but reintegrating Cuba into the North American economy would be massively beneficial to the region as a whole.

You need to go into the advertising business. Maybe Cubans one day will hear your story and become more inclined to go Haitian or Jamaican.

[Border Patrol]

You need to go into the advertising business. Maybe Cubans one day will hear your story and become more inclined to go Haitian or Jamaican.

Implying that trade is destructive.

[Condottiere 40K]

People tend to get remorseful as they grow older, as well anxious as to their reception when they take that final trip into the light.

The embargo will probably be lifted when Raul resigns, or has a sudden epiphany on the road to Damascus.

[Jom]

I know that Latin America in general is rather devoutly Catholic, but what effect has around half a century of communism had on Cuba? Is the population still largely religious? I assume that it is, otherwise Benedict wouldn't have visited, or perhaps he wants to try and get the population back into the fold.

[hellheaven1987]

I know that Latin America in general is rather devoutly Catholic, but what effect has around half a century of communism had on Cuba? Is the population still largely religious? I assume that it is, otherwise Benedict wouldn't have visited, or perhaps he wants to try and get the population back into the fold.

Even after Soviet's 70 years rule Orthodox is still remained popular in Russia today; remember we have a thread before about a cult to seek Stalin to be included as an Orthodox saint?

Update:

Pope Benedict has met Cuban President Raul Castro on the second day of his visit to the communist-run island.

Meanwhile, former President Fidel Castro has written that he is "happy" to meet the pope, in an article on the government's website.

After arriving in the capital, Havana, the pope told a crowd he prayed for a Cuba "advancing along the ways of renewal and hope".

Cuban officials have insisted that political reform is not on the agenda.

Marino Murillo, one of Castro's vice-presidents and the "economics czar" in charge of liberalisation, told journalists the government was updating the Cuban economic model to make socialism sustainable.

"There will be no political reform in Cuba," he said.

The pope's visit marks the 400th anniversary of the discovery of a statue of the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre - also known as the Mambisa Virgin - which was found floating in a bay by fishermen. It was revered by Cuba's independence heroes.

Source

[Prosaic Visitant]

I like it how the officials keep saying there is no reforms; yet Raul is reforming, be it slowly, the economy. The heresy of private enterprise is no present among other things.

[Thorn777]

Trading with Satan is.

[s.rwitt]

Great Satan or Little Satan?

[Border Patrol]

Great Satan is a slave to the Jewish lobby and Little Satan is run entirely! by Jews. So naturally you need to be suspicious of both.

[Kjertesvein]

One totalitarian to another, I guess they have alot of catching up to do.

~Wille