Cordial meeting between the Pope and Fidel

By Manuel Alberto Ramy

“Very cordial,” was how Vatican spokesman Father Lombardi described the meeting between His Holiness Benedict XVI and Cuban leader Fidel Castro Ruz.

According to the Jesuit Lombardi, they spoke for about 40 minutes over a number of issues, including changes in the Catholic liturgy, over which Fidel Castro showed interest. They also spoke of ecological problems that the earth faces, as well as culture and aspects of the different religions.

Fidel Castro expressed to His Holiness that he always wished that they’d canonize Mother Theresa and Pope John Paul II and he requested any book that might result useful for his reflections.

Lombardi said that both, who are basically the same age, maybe a year less – the Pope is 84 while Fidel is 85 – maintain themselves active.

Present during the meeting was Fidel’s wife, Dalia Soto del Valle and two of their children.

Photos of the meeting provided by the Vatican press.