Crossed Convocations to Receive the Pope

Crossed Convocations to Receive the Pope / 14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar
Posted on September 17, 2015

Reinaldo Escobar, Mexico, 15 September 2015 – Two convocations have been
made to the Cuban people asking them to receive Pope Francis, one from
the Communist Party, and one from Cardinal Jaime Ortega, the Archbishop
of Havana. Both give details of the apostolic visit of the Supreme
Pontiff of the Catholic Church and the Head of State of Vatican City to
Cuba between September 19 and 22.

The newspaper Granma previously classified the welcome of Cuban
government and the people of the capital as cordial, and emphasized that
"His Holiness will enjoy the respect, affection and hospitality which we
will all offer him, during his stay in our country."

The Cardinal gave a press conference with the capital's journalists in
his office at the Diocese, the details of which appear in the Havana
Tribune (partially quoted in theonline site Cubadebate) where he urged
Havanans to "receive the pope with an open and receptive spirit, and
look on him not as someone important, distant and great, but as a close
friend."

The official organ of the Cuban Communist Party, in its Tuesday
editorial, emphasized that Francis "will see our patriotism, and the
arduous and fruitful effort of the Nation to exalt the human being, for
its justice and culture; for that better world that is not only
possible, but indispensable."

Both calls, the political and the ecclesiastical, made reference to the
80 years of diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the Republic of
Cuba, but the cardinal downplays its importance, emphasizing that what
is significant is "what the Catholic Church can do, from its authority,
in support of restoring confidence in man, its capacity to confront the
challenges of History at this time, and of Nature, affected by man
himself, with excessive consumerism and the overexploitation of resources."

When Granma summarizes the most important moments in these relationship
it evokes "the visits of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz to the Holy
See in 1996, those taken to Cuba by the Supreme Pontiffs John Paul II in
1998 and Benedict XVI in 2012, as well as the positive meeting held last
May by the President of the Councils of State and of Ministers Raul
Castro Ruz with Pope Francis, in the Vatican."

Jaime, without abandoning the first person singular, recalls, "In my
capacity as Archbishop of Havana, I have received them, and always as
Cardinal. I was named Cardinal 21 years ago by John Paul II. Later he
came to Cuba and I welcomed him." And later he continues, "I received
him with great affection. It was also a joy to receive Pope Benedict and
John Paul II. I have been very close to them, and both Benedict and
Francis have always had a great knowledge of Cuba, a special affection
toward our country, and a closeness to me."

In what may have been the most lively moment of the press conference,
held in the Havana bishopric, one of the journalists asked the Cardinal
one of those questions that in the state media environment is considered
provocative, "Many are asking, will you bring up the issue of Cuba?" To
which Jaime Ortego, who never misses an opportunity to miss these kinds
of opportunities, responded laconically, "This event, without a doubt,
will leave traces in the life our Church and in the life of our people."

Although the two convening parties coincide in affirming that there has
been unity of action with regards to preparations and ensuring the
visit's logistic base, it is clear that each one sees the issue from
different viewpoints. While the Cardinal focuses on the conduct toward
the Pope with a loving tone, the official text takes an emotional
distance in these dealings: "We will listen to the words of His Holiness
with respect and attention, demonstrating that we are a cultured and
noble people, which, as a worthy host, will present its history, culture
and traditions; immersed in the process of updating its socioeconomic
model, committed to the defense of national sovereignty and to
preserving its social conquests and achieving the greatest wellbeing for
everyone without exclusions."

The rest of the program, already published, includes a meeting with
president Raul Castro, the holding of a Mass in the Plaza of the
Revolution in Havana and another in the Calixto Garcia Plaza in Holguin,
the meeting with bishops, priests, monks and nuns, seminarians and lay
people; the greeting of young people and Cuban families, and the final
Mass in the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Charity of Cobre, Patroness of
Cuba. Neither of the two sources mentioned again that a meeting between
the Pope and Fidel Castro is on the schedule.

Source: Crossed Convocations to Receive the Pope / 14ymedio, Reinaldo
Escobar | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/crossed-convocations-to-receive-the-pope-14ymedio-reinaldo-escobar/