Raul Castro meets top Vatican official

HAVANA – Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone expressed concern about prisoners in Cuba during a meeting with Cuban President Raul Castro, amid signs restrictions on the press may be easing.

The meeting with the Vatican’s number two at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana marked the new Cuban president’s maiden diplomatic talks since taking over on Sunday from his brother Fidel Castro after a half century in power. “I wished him success in this mission of service to his country and I confirmed the Holy See’s commitment to promoting the world’s rapprochement with Cuba,” Bertone, 73, said in a statement read out after the meeting late on Tuesday.”With utmost respect for the sovereignty of the country and its citizens, I expressed to President Raul Castro the church’s concern for prisoners and their families,” he said.Castro and Bertone “reviewed the status of relations between the Cuban state and the Holy and the Catholic Church in Cuba (and) discussed issues of multilateral and international interest,” Cuban television said of the meeting, which followed calls by the Vatican for reforms on the communist-run island.Cuban dissidents had urged Cardinal Bertone to call on the new president to release political prisoners.Bertone earlier yesterday said he expected “clarity” and “sincerity” in his talks with the new leader.”I have come here at a special, extraordinary moment,” he told a joint news conference with Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque.In a separate meeting with Catholic reporters, Bertone said Cuban officials had promised him “more openness for the press, the radio and, in exceptional cases, the television as well,” according to Italy’s Catholic news agency Sir.”Everything starts with a promise,” Bertone was quoted as saying by the agency, “but we hope there’ll be an opening, because nothing is impossible.”In a sign that press restrictions may be easing, the official newspaper Granma on Tuesday published for the first time ever a statement from Cuba’s Catholic Church – on the parliament’s election of Raul Castro on Sunday.They said they were praying the new president and parliament would “move forward decisively these transcendent measures that we know must be gradual, but which can satisfy the longing and worries expressed by Cubans.”Cuban television also covered a Bertone press conference from start to finish.Bertone’s visit marks the 10th anniversary of a historic visit to Cuba by the late pope, John Paul II.Castro, 76, Cuba’s highest-ranking general and chief of the country’s Revolutionary Armed Forces for nearly 50 years, took over after his 81-year-old brother announced last week he would step down due to poor health.Known as a pragmatist with solid backing from the powerful military, Raul Castro promised to stay faithful to the Cuban revolution and to consult his brother on major issues.And he said he would remain vigilant in the face of Cuba’s powerful northern neighbour the United States.Nampa-AFP”I wished him success in this mission of service to his country and I confirmed the Holy See’s commitment to promoting the world’s rapprochement with Cuba,” Bertone, 73, said in a statement read out after the meeting late on Tuesday.”With utmost respect for the sovereignty of the country and its citizens, I expressed to President Raul Castro the church’s concern for prisoners and their families,” he said.Castro and Bertone “reviewed the status of relations between the Cuban state and the Holy and the Catholic Church in Cuba (and) discussed issues of multilateral and international interest,” Cuban television said of the meeting, which followed calls by the Vatican for reforms on the communist-run island.Cuban dissidents had urged Cardinal Bertone to call on the new president to release political prisoners.Bertone earlier yesterday said he expected “clarity” and “sincerity” in his talks with the new leader.”I have come here at a special, extraordinary moment,” he told a joint news conference with Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque.In a separate meeting with Catholic reporters, Bertone said Cuban officials had promised him “more openness for the press, the radio and, in exceptional cases, the television as well,” according to Italy’s Catholic news agency Sir.”Everything starts with a promise,” Bertone was quoted as saying by the agency, “but we hope there’ll be an opening, because nothing is impossible.”In a sign that press restrictions may be easing, the official newspaper Granma on Tuesday published for the first time ever a statement from Cuba’s Catholic Church – on the parliament’s election of Raul Castro on Sunday.They said they were praying the new president and parliament would “move forward decisively these transcendent measures that we know must be gradual, but which can satisfy the longing and worries expressed by Cubans.”Cuban television also covered a Bertone press conference from start to finish.Bertone’s visit marks the 10th anniversary of a historic visit to Cuba by the late pope, John Paul II.Castro, 76, Cuba’s highest-ranking general and chief of the country’s Revolutionary Armed Forces for nearly 50 years, took over after his 81-year-old brother announced last week he would step down due to poor health.Known as a pragmatist with solid backing from the powerful military, Raul Castro promised to stay faithful to the Cuban revolution and to consult his brother on major issues.And he said he would remain vigilant in the face of Cuba’s powerful northern neighbour the United States.Nampa-AFP