In welcoming the Pope at the Jose Marti International Airport in this capital on Saturday, the president reiterated the position of the Caribbean nation saying the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two nations is a first step towards full normalization of ties.
He noted that the latter requires resolving problems and correcting injustices and added the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by Washington should cease and the territory usurped by the Guantanamo Naval Base should be returned to Cuba because they are fair claims shared by the peoples and the overwhelming majority of governments in the world.
Referring to the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of uninterrupted relations between the Holy See and Cuba, Raul Castro described those links as good and praised its favorable development on the basis of mutual respect.
Relations between the Government and the Catholic Church in Cuba are developing in a gratifying atmosphere, the same as with every denomination and religious institution represented in the country and Cubans exercise religious freedom as a right consecrated in our Constitution, said the Cuban president.
Noting that Cuba is honored with the Pope's visit, Raul Castro said the head of state of Vatican City will see how deeply we love our Homeland, for which we are capable of the greatest sacrifices.
We have always guided the example of the heroes of our America, who gave us dignity, courage and generosity and so we practice known axiom that Marti's homeland is humanity, he said.
We have always followed in the steps of the heroes of Our America, who bestowed on us their honor, courage and generosity and for that reason we have learned to exercise Marti’s axiom that Homeland is Humanity, he stated.
Moreover, he stressed that the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean have decided to move forward to integration, in defense of our independence, sovereignty over natural resources and social justice.
However, our region still shows the greatest disparity in wealth distribution. In this continent, legitimate governments working for a better future are facing numerous attempts at destabilization, he stated.
He explained that the analysis on the causes of these problems and the call to safeguard the planet and the survival of our species; to cease the predatory action of the wealthy nations and the big transnationals; and, to remove the dangers threatening us all start having an increasing global eco.
He recalled the intervention of the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, in 1992, during the United Nations Conference on Development and the Environment held in Rio de Janeiro, where he raised the need to save humanity from self-destruction, to make a better distribution of wealth, knowledge, science and technology in order to attain a sustainable development.
The current international system is unfair and immoral. It has globalized capital and turned money into its idol. It makes people become simple consumers, and instead of disseminating knowledge and culture, it alienates them with behavior patterns and reflexes promoted by means that serve only their owners’ interests, that is, the transnational media corporations.
He expressed that what immigrants and the poor, who are the outraged of the world claiming for their rights are going through stands as an offense to human conscience, and claimed for the end of such injustice.
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