Castro to meet the Pope
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.VATICAN CITY, Nov 16 (Reuter) - The Vatican said yesterday that Pope John Paul and Cuban President Fidel Castro will meet next week, ending suspense about whether two of the towering figures of the 20th century would ever come face to face.
The meeting at the Vatican on Tuesday will be the first encounter between the veteran communist revolutionary and the 76-year-old Polish pontiff and could pave the way for the Pope's first visit to Cuba.
A Vatican spokesman said the Pope would receive 70-year-old Mr Castro, who is in Rome for theWorld Food Summit, at a private audience at 11am.
The groundwork for Tuesday's meeting was done by the Vatican's foreign minister, Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, who visited Cuba last month and met Mr Castro. Archbishop Tauran said before leaving the island that an eventual trip by the Pope to Cuba would be a new departure point on the road towards normalised relations between the Roman Catholic church and the communist state.
Vatican sources have said a trip could take place next year, possibly as part of a trip to Brazil already planned for October.
Despite recent improvements, relations between the Cuban Catholic Church and the communist government are still strained over issues of education, full religious freedom, and the Church's use of the mass media.
Vatican sources said that at next week's audience the Pope is expected to push for democratic reforms in Cuba and Castro would most likely repeat his condemnation of the 34-year-old US embargo against the island.
US aid cut, page 4
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments