A year after the protests in Cuba, Pope Francis claims to have a “human relationship with Raúl Castro”

A year after the popular protests that shook Cuba, with thousands of people in various cities of the country protesting against the lack of freedom and economic scarcity, the Pope francesco stressed out his “human relationship” with Raúl Castrohe claimed that the island “is a symbol” and criticized the media that speak of its proximity to the communist regime which has held power since 1959.

Mexican journalists Maria Antonietta Collins and Valentina Alazrakifrom the Univisión and Televisa channels, he interviewed Francisco this Monday and asked him for “a message for the Cuban people” on the anniversary of the protests, brutally repressed by the Castro regime.

After a pause for reflection, the Pope declared: «I love the Cuban people very muchi love him too much and I had good human relations with the Cuban people, and I also confess, with Raúl Castro I have a human relationship “.

“Cuba is a symbol, Cuba has a great history, I feel very close, even to the Cuban bishops”, the Pope underlined.

“I was happy when that little deal was reached with the United States, that President Obama wanted it at the time, and Raúl Castro accepted it, and it was a good step that has now been stopped,” he added.

Without referring at any time to the 11J protests last year, which led to very harsh prison sentences for many of the protesters accused of “terrorism”, Francisco stressed that “investigative dialogues are currently underway to shorten the distances “.

The 85-year-old Pope also rejected the accusations of being a “communist” made by some media outlets.

They are “very ideological communication groups that are dedicated to ideologizing the position of others,” he said.

Third war in pieces

“When they accuse me of being a communist I say: ‘how old is it’. These accusations are over, I see them as outdated. They are made by small ideologized groups” Francisco also repeated his concept for which the world has lived for years “a third world war in pieces, with wars everywhere, even if the war in Ukraine affects us more closely “.

“For years we have lived the third world war in pieces, in chapters, with wars everywhere, even if the war in Ukraine” touches us more closely, “he said.

The pope spoke of the coronavirus pandemic, the war in Europe, the scandals on child abuse in the Church, abortion, as well as not shy away from questions about his health or the rumor of a possible resignation.

does not give up

Against the rumors about his health and possible resignation he also expressed: “I have no intention of resigning. Not at the moment“He stated this in an interview lasting over two hours which was broadcast in full by TelevisaUnivision.

He admitted that he always believed that his time in the Vatican would be short, “but I didn’t realize it and It’s been 9 yearsthe pontiff said with irony, who made the search for “naturalness” and simplicity one of the distinctive features of his pontificate.

However, he admitted it “the knee hurts a little”, that something feels “decreased” even if he can walk now, but that “never”, in any case, it occurred to him to give up until today.

However, “if I see that I can’t, I am either hurt or an obstacle” I look for “help” to make the decision to withdraw, he said. And he expressed his “great sympathy” for the “goodness” of Pope Benedict XVI, who resigned in 2013, and wears a life, sustained, retirement, reading, studying and writing at 95 years old.

He stressed that, on his retirement day, he prefers to be taken into consideration simple bishop emeritus of Rome before the pope emeritus and devote his hours to the confession of the faithful and to the practice of charity and visits to the sick in some Italian parish.

“If I survive after discharge, I would like to do something like this: confess and go see the sick“, She said.

Regarding the covid-19 pandemic, he stressed that it is a “very difficult time for humanity” and that it is not over: “It entered and remained and with serious problems. It is a global scourge”, underlined Francis.

Biden talks to his pastor

He was very blunt in condemning abortion and said that “scientific data” shows that “one month after conception, the fetus’s DNA is already there and the organs are aligned. There is human life. Is it right to eliminate a human life?‘the Pope asked.

Regarding the favorable position of the President of the United States, Joe Biden, a Catholic, to protect the right to abortion, Francisco stressed that “leave it” to your “conscience”: “Let him speak to his pastor about this inconsistency,” he stressed.

Regarding the scandals of child sexual abuse, he was very explicit in saying that “the dish was discovered” after the scandal of predatory priests in the State of Pennsylvania (USA) and that “today the Church has become more and more aware and more “,” he chose to find out and we will not be complicit “in these crimes, he assured.

Trip to Kiev

Pope Francis will go to kyiv, but the date and modalities of the trip have not yet been decided, said a senior Vatican prelate, Monsignor Paul Gallagher, secretary for relations with states, on Tuesday.

“The Pope will now go to Canada. And he will certainly go to Kyiv, but when and how we do not knowGallagher told reporters.

When asked about Pope Francis who is also trying to maintain a dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Gallagher replied: “We have contacts with the embassy, ​​this is our communication channel, like the nuncio”.

A trip to kiev at the moment seems highly unlikely due to the pontiff’s mobility problems due to a knee injury that has already forced him to postpone several trips abroad.

Source: ANSA and EFE