AsiaNews.it
Pope to announce his trip to Cuba on Monday
Benedict XVI will visit the island, with which China is the biggest trading partner, and which is stepping up political, economic and diplomatic ties. The trip will take place in March, in celebration of the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, the patroness of Cuba.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Benedict XVI will travel to Cuba, and Mexico in the spring of 2012, probably in the second half of March. The official announcement of the trip and the dates of the pastoral visit may be communicated by the Pope himself Monday, December 12, during the celebration of Mass for Latin America presided over by the Pope. The Cuban Church in will celebrate the closure of the Jubilee year of dedicated to the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, the patroness of Cuba, and the Pope will visit the shrine, southeast of Santiago.
The island's economic and social situation is very serious, and even if Venezuela had initially taken the place of 'the Soviet Union as the main partners of the island, Cuba has now shifted its balance towards Beijing. The trade with China rose from 440 million dollars in 2001 to 1.83 billion dollars in 2010, Last June the island was visited by the Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping for the signing of several bilateral agreements and a newly opened Confucius Institute in Havana opened already has over 500 students enrolled for the study Mandarin. Raul Castro is trying to start an economic reform which could run very large social risks. Havana has focused on a gradual change in its economy, following the Chinese model.
The People's Republic of China is now Cuba’s most important partner. On 15 November, Han Qide, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress visited Cuba said: "The Parliaments of Cuba and China maintain in excellent relations and now our aim is to further strengthen these bonds. " Han Qide also chairs the Association for Peace and Disarmament of the Chinese people was on a visit invited by his counterpart Jaime Crombet, vice president of the National Assembly of People's Power. In any event, the regime also needs the social help of the Church before proceeding with more decisive reforms.
The Executive Secretary of the Cuban Bishops Conference, Msgr. Jose Felix Perez, said that "next Monday the Pope will celebrate a Mass in St. Peter's in honour of the bicentennial of the independence of several Latin American countries and there the exact dates will be announced". According to the prelate, the Pope's visit "will be a time to give new apostolic strength and vigor" to Cubans. The regime and the Church are trying to normalize relations, with occasional moments of tension and openings. The President of the Cuban Parliament said that the Pope's visit "causes us great happiness, great joy, I think it's great news."
Benedict XVI will also visit Mexico, but because of the altitude will not be traveling to either Mexico City or to the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Leon has been chosen place and a visit to the shrine of the Cerro Cubilete. It will be the second visit of a Pope to the "Pearl of the Caribbean", after the visit made in 1998 by Pope John Paul.