Vatican City, 23 September 2015 (VIS) –
During the flight from Cuba to the United States, Pope Francis spoke
with journalists and answered their questions on a number of issues
including the trade embargo against Cuba, his critique of liberal
capitalism and the future role of the Church on the island.
The first question related to the
Pope's opinion on the trade embargo against Cuba, and whether he
intends to refer to this theme in his address to the United States
Congress.
“The question of the trade embargo is
part of the negotiations”, replied Francis. “This is public: both
presidents have referred to it. So, it is a public matter, that leads
in the direction of the good relations that are being constructed. My
hope is that an agreement satisfying both parties may be reached. …
With regard to the position of the Holy See on the embargoes,
previous Popes have spoken not only about this case, but also on
other cases of embargoes. On this matter I refer to the social
doctrine of the Church, which is precise and just. With regard to the
United States Congress … I am thinking about what I would like to
say in this respect; but not specifically on this theme, but rather
in general on the issue of bilateral and multilateral agreements, as
a sign of progress in co-existence. But this theme in a concrete
sense is not mentioned, I am almost sure of this”.
“We have heard that more than fifty
dissidents were arrested outside the nunciature because they were
trying to obtain a meeting with you. Would you like to meet the
dissidents? And if such a meeting took place, what would you say to
them?”
“Firstly, I am not aware that this
happened. … Directly, I do not know. Your two questions concern the
future. I would like this to happen. I like meeting all people. First
of all because I believe that all people are sons and daughters of
God, and secondly, an encounter with any person is enriching. Yes, I
would like to meet them. If you would like me to continue to speak
about the dissidents, I have something very concrete to say. First of
all, it was very clear that I would not have given any audience, as I
was asked for an audience not only with the dissidents, but also with
people from other sectors, including various heads of State. …
Audiences were planned neither with dissidents, nor with others.
Secondly, from the nunciature there were telephone calls with various
people who form part of this group of dissidents. The task of the
nuncio was to communicate to them that with pleasure, upon my arrival
at the cathedral for the meeting with consecrated persons, I would
have greeted those who were there. A greeting, this is true. But
given that nobody presented themselves for the greeting, I do not
know if they were there or not. I greeted all those who were there.
Above all I greeted the sick, those who were in wheelchairs. But
nobody presented him- or herself as a dissident. From the nunciature
calls were made to invite them for a passing greeting”.
The third question was on the suffering
of the Cuban Catholic Church under Fidel Castro, and whether during
his meeting with the Commander, the Pope thought he had repented to
any degree.
“Repentance is something very
intimate, it is a matter of conscience”, said the Holy Father. “In
the encounter with Fidel I spoke with him about the Jesuits he knew,
as one of the gifts I took was a book by Fr. Llorente, a close friend
of his and a Jesuit, and another by Fr. Pronzato which he will
certainly appreciate. We spoke about these things. We spoke at length
about 'Laudato si'', as he is very interested in environmental
issues. It was an informal and spontaneous meeting. We spoke about
the encyclical as he is very concerned about this matter, but we did
not talk about the past”.
“Given that the Pope has denounced
the current economic system, some sectors of American society have
asked whether the Pope is communist and others, indeed, whether he is
Catholic. What does Francis think about this?”
“I am sure that I have not said
anything that is not present in the social Doctrine of the Church”,
responded the Holy Father. “On another flight a journalist asked me
if, when I went to speak to the Popular Movements, if the Church was
following me, and I answered that I follow the Church, as in this way
I don't think I can make a mistake. I don't believe I have said
anything that is not in the social Doctrine of the Church. These
things can be explained. Perhaps an explanation gave the impression
that I tended a little to the left, but it would be an error of
explanation. No. My doctrine, on all of this, on 'Laudato si'', on
economic imperialism and all of this, it is that of the social
doctrine of the Church. And if it is necessary for me to recite the
Creed, I am willing to do so!”
Another journalist recalled that during
his last apostolic trip to Latin America the Pope harshly criticised
the liberal capitalist system while in Cuba his criticism of the
Communist system was less severe. “What is the reason for this
difference?”
“In the addresses I gave in Cuba, I
always mentioned the social Doctrine of the Church”, explained
Francis. “The things that need to be corrected I have mentioned
clearly. … I have not said anything more than what I have written
in the encyclical and in 'Evangelii Gaudium' on unfettered or liberal
capitalism. … But here in Cuba … it has been a very pastoral
trip, with the Catholic community, with Christians, and also with
those people of good will and so my discourses have been homilies. …
Even with the young – whether or not they were young believers and,
among the believers, of different religions – it was a discourse of
hope to encourage dialogue between them, to seek the things they have
in common and not those that divide them, to build bridges. … It
was a more pastoral language. Instead, in the encyclical it was
necessary to tackle more technical issues”.
The penultimate question was whether or
not the Catholic Church will assume any role in encouraging openness
to political freedom in Cuba, considering the role the Holy See has
already played in re-establishing relations between Cuba and the
United States.
“The Church in Cuba has drawn up a
list of prisoners to be pardoned”, revealed the Pope. “Amnesty
has been granted to 3,500 of them, according to the president of the
Episcopal Conference. And there are still cases under consideration.
And the Church here in Cuba is working for further amnesty. For
example, some people tell me it would be good to do away with life
imprisonment. Speaking plainly, life imprisonment is almost a form of
hidden death sentence. I have said this publicly in an address to
European jurists. You stay there, dying every day without hope of
freedom. It is a hypothesis. Another hypothesis is that there be
general amnesties every year or two. But the Church is working, has
worked on this. I am not saying that these three thousand were freed
because of the Church lists, no. The Church has made a list, has
officially requested amnesty, and will continue to do so”.
Finally, a reporter asked if the fact
that three Popes have visited Cuba in twenty years may be interpreted
as indicating that the island is in some way afflicted, inasmuch as a
doctor visits a sick patient rather than a person in good health.
“No, no”, he replied. “The first
was John Paul II, the first historic visit”, he affirmed. “But it
was normal – he visited many countries, including those that were
hostile towards the Church. The second was Pope Benedict XVI. …
Initially my idea was to enter the United States via Mexico, but to
visit Mexico without visiting Our Lady of Guadalupe would not have
been good. Then, with the announcement of 17 December last year, when
the talks that had been taking place for almost a year were made
public, I said that I would like to visit the United States via Cuba.
And I chose to do so for this reason. But Cuba does not have any
particular affliction that other countries do not have”.
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