The religious views of Fidel Castro are a matter of public interest.
According to The Washington Post, former president of CubaFidel Castro's letters from prison suggest that he "was a man of unusual spiritual depth – and a fervent believer in God".[1] Writing to the father of a fallen comrade, Castro writes:
I will not speak of him as if he were absent, he has not been and he will never be. These are not mere words of consolation. Only those of us who feel it truly and permanently in the depths of our souls can comprehend this. Physical life is ephemeral, it passes inexorably... This truth should be taught to every human being – that the immortal values of the spirit are above physical life. What sense does life have without these values? What then is it to live? Those who understand this and generously sacrifice their physical life for the sake of good and justice – how can they die? God is the supreme idea of goodness and justice.[1]
In Oliver Stone's documentary Comandante, Castro states, "I have never been a believer", and has total conviction that there is only one life.[2]Pope John XXIII clashed with Castro in 1962 after Castro suppressed Catholic institutions in Cuba, and this led to later claims on the internet that Castro had been excommunicated. However, it appears that these claims are apocryphal.[3] Castro has criticized what he sees as elements of the Bible that have been used to justify the oppression of both women and people of African descent throughout history.[4]
Treatment of religious issues as leader of Cubaedit
During a visit of Jesse Jackson in 1984, Castro accompanied him to a Methodist church service where he even spoke from the pulpit with a Bible before him, an event that marked a beginning of increased openness towards Christianity in Cuba.[5] In 1992, Castro agreed to loosen restrictions on religion, and even permitted church-going Catholics to join the Communist Party of Cuba. He began describing his country as "secular", rather than as "atheist".[6]Pope John Paul II visited Cuba in 1998, the first visit by a reigning pontiff to the island. Castro and the Pope appeared side by side in public on several occasions during the visit. Castro wore a dark blue business suit, rather than fatigues, in his public meetings with the Pope, and treated him with reverence and respect.[7] In December 1998, Castro formally re-instated Christmas Day as the official celebration for the first time since its abolition by the Communist Party in 1969.[8] Cubans were again allowed to mark Christmas as a holiday, and to openly hold religious processions. The Pope sent a telegram to Castro, thanking him for restoring Christmas as a public holiday.[9]
Castro attended a Roman Catholic convent blessing in 2003. The purpose of this unprecedented event was to help bless the newly restored convent in Old Havana, and to mark the fifth anniversary of the Pope's visit to Cuba.[10] The senior spiritual leader of the Orthodox Christian faith arrived in Cuba in 2004, the first time any Orthodox Patriarch has visited Latin America in the Church's history: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I consecrated a cathedral in Havana and bestowed an honor on Fidel Castro.[11] His aides said that he was responding to the decision of the Cuban Government to build and donate to the Orthodox Christians a tiny Orthodox cathedral in the heart of old Havana.[12] After Pope John Paul II's death in April 2005, an emotional Castro attended a mass in his honor in Havana's cathedral, and signed the Pope's condolence book at the Vatican Embassy.[13] He had last visited the cathedral in 1959, 46 years earlier, for the wedding of one of his sisters. Cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino led the mass and welcomed Castro, who was dressed in a black suit, expressing his gratitude for the "heartfelt way that the death of our Holy Father John Paul II was received (in Cuba)".[14]
In his 2009 spoken autobiography, Castro said that Christianity exhibited "a group of very humane precepts" which gave the world "ethical values" and a "sense of social justice", before relating that, "If people call me Christian, not from the standpoint of religion, but from the standpoint of social vision, I declare that I am a Christian."[15]
On March 28, 2012, Castro had a 30-minute meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, during the Pope's three-day visit to Cuba. The Pope had previously called for an end to the U.S. embargo on Cuba, and the Pope made statements encouraging a more open Cuban society, while Castro asked the Pope about his role and about the changes the Church had experienced over the last century.[16][17][18]
On September 20, 2015, Castro met with Pope Francis during the Pope's three-day visit to Cuba, where they discussed protecting the environment and the problems of the modern world.[19]
^"Pope Francis meets Fidel Castro". 20 September 2015.
October 27, 2023
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The religious views of Fidel Castro are a matter of public interest According to The Washington Post former president of Cuba Fidel Castro s letters from prison suggest that he was a man of unusual spiritual depth and a fervent believer in God 1 Writing to the father of a fallen comrade Castro writes I will not speak of him as if he were absent he has not been and he will never be These are not mere words of consolation Only those of us who feel it truly and permanently in the depths of our souls can comprehend this Physical life is ephemeral it passes inexorably This truth should be taught to every human being that the immortal values of the spirit are above physical life What sense does life have without these values What then is it to live Those who understand this and generously sacrifice their physical life for the sake of good and justice how can they die God is the supreme idea of goodness and justice 1 Contents 1 Religious upbringing 2 Criticism of aspects of religion 3 Treatment of religious issues as leader of Cuba 4 See also 5 ReferencesReligious upbringing editCastro was baptized and raised a Roman Catholic as a child but did not practice as one citation needed Criticism of aspects of religion editIn Oliver Stone s documentary Comandante Castro states I have never been a believer and has total conviction that there is only one life 2 Pope John XXIII clashed with Castro in 1962 after Castro suppressed Catholic institutions in Cuba and this led to later claims on the internet that Castro had been excommunicated However it appears that these claims are apocryphal 3 Castro has criticized what he sees as elements of the Bible that have been used to justify the oppression of both women and people of African descent throughout history 4 Treatment of religious issues as leader of Cuba editDuring a visit of Jesse Jackson in 1984 Castro accompanied him to a Methodist church service where he even spoke from the pulpit with a Bible before him an event that marked a beginning of increased openness towards Christianity in Cuba 5 In 1992 Castro agreed to loosen restrictions on religion and even permitted church going Catholics to join the Communist Party of Cuba He began describing his country as secular rather than as atheist 6 Pope John Paul II visited Cuba in 1998 the first visit by a reigning pontiff to the island Castro and the Pope appeared side by side in public on several occasions during the visit Castro wore a dark blue business suit rather than fatigues in his public meetings with the Pope and treated him with reverence and respect 7 In December 1998 Castro formally re instated Christmas Day as the official celebration for the first time since its abolition by the Communist Party in 1969 8 Cubans were again allowed to mark Christmas as a holiday and to openly hold religious processions The Pope sent a telegram to Castro thanking him for restoring Christmas as a public holiday 9 Castro attended a Roman Catholic convent blessing in 2003 The purpose of this unprecedented event was to help bless the newly restored convent in Old Havana and to mark the fifth anniversary of the Pope s visit to Cuba 10 The senior spiritual leader of the Orthodox Christian faith arrived in Cuba in 2004 the first time any Orthodox Patriarch has visited Latin America in the Church s history Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I consecrated a cathedral in Havana and bestowed an honor on Fidel Castro 11 His aides said that he was responding to the decision of the Cuban Government to build and donate to the Orthodox Christians a tiny Orthodox cathedral in the heart of old Havana 12 After Pope John Paul II s death in April 2005 an emotional Castro attended a mass in his honor in Havana s cathedral and signed the Pope s condolence book at the Vatican Embassy 13 He had last visited the cathedral in 1959 46 years earlier for the wedding of one of his sisters Cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino led the mass and welcomed Castro who was dressed in a black suit expressing his gratitude for the heartfelt way that the death of our Holy Father John Paul II was received in Cuba 14 In his 2009 spoken autobiography Castro said that Christianity exhibited a group of very humane precepts which gave the world ethical values and a sense of social justice before relating that If people call me Christian not from the standpoint of religion but from the standpoint of social vision I declare that I am a Christian 15 On March 28 2012 Castro had a 30 minute meeting with Pope Benedict XVI during the Pope s three day visit to Cuba The Pope had previously called for an end to the U S embargo on Cuba and the Pope made statements encouraging a more open Cuban society while Castro asked the Pope about his role and about the changes the Church had experienced over the last century 16 17 18 On September 20 2015 Castro met with Pope Francis during the Pope s three day visit to Cuba where they discussed protecting the environment and the problems of the modern world 19 See also editPolitics of Fidel Castro Religion in CubaReferences edit a b Letters From Prison Castro Revealed The Washington Post February 25 2007 Comandante Fidel Castro amp Oliver Stone on YouTube Antequera Luis Del dia en que Juan XXIII excomulgo a Fidel Castro hace hoy 52 anos Religion en Libertad Retrieved 12 September 2022 Castro and Ramonet 2009 pp 40 41 Hopkins Dwight N Antonio Edward P 26 July 2012 The Cambridge Companion to Black Theology ISBN 9780521705691 Pope John Paul II s visit to Cuba The New York Times Rother Larry January 28 1998 Pope Condemns Embargo Castro Attends Mass The New York Times Castro ratifies Christmas holiday BBC News 5 December 1998 Retrieved May 20 2006 Pope s Christmas message for Castro BBC News 28 December 1998 Retrieved May 20 2006 Castro attends convent blessing BBC News 9 March 2003 Retrieved May 20 2006 A new Greek Orthodox Cathedral consecrated in Havana Cuba www wcc coe org March 2004 Gibbs Stephen 22 January 2004 Castro greets Orthodox patriarch BBC News Retrieved May 20 2006 Newman Lucia April 6 2005 Castro signs pope s condolence book CNN Batista Carlos April 5 2005 Fidel Castro mourns pope at Havana cathedral Caribbean Net News Retrieved May 11 2006 Castro and Ramonet 2009 p 156 Pope meets Cuba s Fidel Castro slams U S embargo Reuters Reuters 29 March 2012 Pope Benedict XVI meets Fidel Castro BBC News The Daily Telegraph Pope Francis meets Fidel Castro 20 September 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Religious views of Fidel Castro amp oldid 1170233501, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
