Pope pushes Cuban ties

Cuban leader Raul Castro was among tens of thousands of listeners at a Mass the pope celebrated in Santiago de Cuba, the country's second city, on Monday, calling on Cubans to fight for a better world.

"I appeal to you to reinvigorate your faith ... and armed with peace, forgiveness and understanding, that you may strive to build a renewed and open society, a better society, one more worthy of humanity," the pope said in his sermon.

The pope pressed the Cuban authorities earlier to improve relations with the Catholic Church.

"I carry in my heart the just aspirations and legitimate desires of all Cubans, wherever they may be," he said. "Those of the young and the elderly, of adolescents and children, of the sick and workers, of prisoners and their families, and of the poor and those in need."

Earlier Monday, the pope was received by President Castro, who stressed in a speech that the Cuban constitution guarantees religious freedom.

"Cuba has good relations with all religious institutions in our country," he said.

Only around 10 percent of Cubans are practicing Catholics. Until the 1990s, Cuba was officially atheist.

The pope and Raul Castro were scheduled to hold talks in Havana on Tuesday. Reports said the pontiff might also meet with Castro's brother and predecessor, Fidel. He was expected to give a Mass in the capital the following day.

Benedict was not expected to meet with members of the Cuban opposition.

In comments ahead of his arrival in Cuba, the pope said Marxism "no longer corresponds to reality."

ncy/ccp (AFP, Reuters, dpa)