CUBA: STRIVE FOR JUSTICE, FREEDOM, AND RECONCILIATION

VATICAN CITY, JUL 6, 2001 (VIS) - This morning John Paul II received the bishops of the Cuban Episcopal Conference at the conclusion of their "ad limina" visit, and affirmed that their visit reminds him of his apostolic visit to Cuba in 1998.

"It pleases me to know," the Pope said, "that since then certain things of particular value have improved for you, such as the restoration of the Christmas celebration, the possibility of carrying out various processions, which belong to the rich popular devotion, a greater participation of Catholics in the life of the country, the presence of Cuban youth in the 15th World Youth Day in Rome during this past Jubilee Year and a notable increase in the participation of the faithful in the sacraments."

The Holy Father spoke of the urgency to "present the unfathomable richness of Christian spirituality at the beginnings of this new millennium, to a world tired of old ideologies which have lost their initial attractiveness and have left in many a profound void and a lack of life's meaning."

"As I affirmed during my pastoral visit to Cuba," he continued, "the Church must present to Christians and to those interested in the good of the Cuban people, the teachings of her social doctrine." In this light, the Pope recalled that these teachings must "be considered integrally, from the right to life of the unborn child up to natural death, without excluding any individual or social rights, such as the right to nutrition, health, education, the right to exercise freedom of movement, expression and association."

The Pope exhorted the Cuban prelates to continue to work patiently "in favor of justice, of the true freedom of the sons of God and of reconciliation between all Cubans, those who live on the island and those in other countries, and not to neglect conciliatory efforts which allow an ever greater increase in the charitable action of the Church in the human promotion of the people."

After thanking the priests and men and women religious who serve the Cuban people, the Pope urged them to "facilitate ever more the entrance of new priests and religious, that they may dedicate themselves to the mission in your beautiful island."

"A reason for hope," he added, "is the constant increase in vocations. In this respect, and to facilitate this process, it is necessary to think about creating minor seminaries, where possible, that receive youth before they have finished their philosophical-theological studies, in order to offer them an integral formation based upon Christian moral principles."

Finally, the Holy Father emphasized that in Cuba "there is no lack of committed laity who make an effort in their milieux to lead a lifestyle coherent with their faith." He exhorted the bishops to continue to "strongly proclaim the teachings on marriage and the family, the acceptance of children as God's gift and the springtime of society."

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