POPE WILL VISIT CUBA ON HIS TERMS : CASTRO HAD HOPED TO LIMIT PONTIFF'S MEETINGS.Byline: Victor Simpson Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. In a stroke of brilliance or folly, Fidel Castro Noun 1. Fidel Castro - Cuban socialist leader who overthrew a dictator in 1959 and established a Marxist socialist state in Cuba (born in 1927) Castro, Fidel Castro Ruz won a long-sought pledge Tuesday from Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes Paulus PP. II, Italian: Giovanni Paolo II, Polish: Jan Paweł II) born Karol Józef Wojtyła to visit Communist Cuba next year, capping a triumphant stay in Rome by the Latin American revolutionary. But, as the Vatican made clear, the pope accepted the invitation only after Castro agreed to the usual conditions for papal trips - that the pope can travel anywhere and meet with anyone. The Cuban leader had hoped to restrict the pope's visit, and may have paid a risky price for papal recognition. ``The only thing missing is the date in 1997,'' papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said. Preparations will begin ``shortly,'' he said. A Cuban stop in October during an already scheduled trip to Brazil was one possibility. Cuba is the only Latin American country John Paul The name John Paul might refer to: Full name
On one side was a bearded 70-year-old Cuban with a Catholic education whose revolution has endured for nearly four decades and made him a cultural icon A cultural icon is an object or person which is distinctive to, or particularly representative of, a specific culture. An example is the bowler hat which could be considered an English cultural icon. Others include tea, The Beatles and association football. for the left. On the other: a Pole who leads nearly 1 billion Roman Catholics and helped bring down communism in the Soviet bloc, deepening Cuba's isolation. While the Roman Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church, Christian church headed by the pope, the bishop of Rome (see papacy and Peter, Saint). Its commonest title in official use is Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. in Cuba traditionally has lacked the strength of the church in John Paul II's Poland, the pope could become a rallying point for anti-Castro Cubans. ``Of course, I would not impose conditions. We will treat him with respect,'' Castro told reporters about six hours after the meeting. His tone was in great contrast to 1990, when a possible papal trip was shelved after Castro accused the church of ``anti-revolutionary'' meddling med·dle intr.v. med·dled, med·dling, med·dles 1. To intrude into other people's affairs or business; interfere. See Synonyms at interfere. 2. To handle something idly or ignorantly; tamper. . The Cuban leader apparently hopes Vatican influence can help ease the 34-year U.S. embargo against Cuba, recently stiffened by the Helms-Burton Act intended to discourage foreign companies from investing in Cuba. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Fidel Castro, right, meets with Pope John Paul II in the Vatican. Associated Press |
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