The Role Of Pope Francis I In Cuba’s Transformation

By Rupert Johnson

Pope Francis’ visit to Cuba is indeed historic and significant at a time when Cuba is in the process of normalizing relations with the U.S. And the Pope’s role in this normalization of relationship is very remarkable and outstanding.

Pope Francis 1 can certainly identify with the hopes and aspirations of the Cuban people since he is from a similar linguistic cultural background. Similarly, he is totally familiar with authoritarian regimes since he lived under this type of governance in Argentina for many years.

The Pope’s role definitely parallels that of Pope John Paul 11 who helped to bring about the demise of communism in the Soviet Union and other parts of Eastern Europe. Just as Pope John Paul 11 collaborated with President Reagan in the transformation of the ideological underpinning of Eastern Europe, similarly Pope Francis 1 and President Obama have been working assiduously to bring about political and social changes in Cuba.

The Pope’s Mass on Sunday, September 20 at Revolution Square in Havana can be viewed as a genuine return to the freedom of religion in general and the Catholic credo in particular. For many years under the Castro regime, religious freedom was systematically suppressed. However, in recent years restrictions on religious freedom have been somewhat relaxed. I am extremely hopeful that other freedoms, such as freedom of speech and freedom of association will finally emerge.

There is no doubt that Cuba is undergoing a process of evolution. For example, individualism in economic affairs is taking a foothold. And as time goes by selective parts of state ownership and collectivization of the means of production will take a backseat.

Notwithstanding, the state’s direct involvement in health care and education initiatives will probably remain untouched. The Cuban people may not enjoy all the economic trappings of middle-class Americans, but by all accounts the vast majority of the people are better housed, better educated, and better off health-wise than ever before.

It is well documented that Cuba has one of the highest literary rates in the world because of its totally free and efficient educational policy. It is also well documented that Cuba has an ample supply of well-trained and qualified doctors and nurses, and a wide array of excellent health care services—all free of cost. It is noteworthy that no Cuban is ever denied medical care on the basis of his or her economic conditions.

Although the Pope does not embrace the practice of communism, he is also very critical of unchecked runaway capitalism calling it the “dung of the devil.” In this respect Pope Francis 1 is in the same tradition as Pope John Paul 11. Both men have denounced the oppressive nature of capitalism with its tendency to exploit the downtrodden. Anyway, they are not total in their denouncement. They believe that capitalism can be a source of good if it is used to improve the lives of the poor.

As a diplomatic mediator in the normalization of relations between Cuba and the U.S., it will be interesting to see if the Pope refers obliquely to the lifting of the economic embargo when he addresses the U.S. Congress. I firmly believe that the lifting of the embargo will precipitate the move towards democracy and freedom in Cuba.

It should be noted that in his historic visit to Cuba, the Pope delivered an impassioned unscripted message of hope particularly to the young people of the country. In this respect there is no doubt that the name Pope Francis 1 is a metaphor for the hopes and aspirations of the Cuban people. Viva el Papa!

Rupert Johnson can be reached at: r.b.johnson@sympatico.ca.