Dalia González Delgado

WHEN Pope John Paul II visited Cuba, the whole world was interested in his historic meeting with President Fidel Castro. But it wasn’t the first time the two had met. In November of 1996 they had an exchange in the Vatican. For the first time, a Cuban President was received by the highest authority of the Catholic Church.

The audience, conceded by the Supreme Pontiff to the Cuban leader, who was in Rome attending the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Summit, caused a stir in the press and many expected disagreements to surface. Both state leaders, however, emphasized statements of respect and mutual admiration.

The journalist Luis Báez reported that "ten minutes before the time scheduled for the audience, the caravan of vehicles in which Fidel was traveling crossed the historic St. Peter’s Square and passed through the San Damaso courtyard into the heart of the tiny Vatican state, from where Fidel was taken to the Holy Father’s private library."

"Welcome, thank you for your visit," John Paul II said to him. The Cuban President responded, with a slight inclination, "Your Holiness, it is a great honor for me to shake your hand."

"The conversation lasted about 35 minutes, unwitnessed," Báez continues. The dialogue was in Spanish. Saying goodbye, Fidel repeated his invitation to the Pope to visit the country, "Your Holiness, I hope to see you soon in Cuba."

"Thank you. My blessings for all the Cuban people," was the answer.

The meeting became a leading news item in the most important media around the world. The Mexican agency Notimex, reporting from Rome wrote, "Fidel, in the World Food Summit and his meeting with John Paul II, was able to counteract efforts by the United States, seconded by Spain, to isolate his government."

Vatican radio disseminated an interview with the Cuban leader, in which he reiterated, "We want to create a climate of trust and good relations with the church."

The Spanish newspaper El País described the handshake between the Pontiff and Fidel as "historic."

Fidel himself, in a press conference following the meeting, said that the meeting had "a strong impact."

"I was able to observe his truly kind and noble face. I have seen a good, noble, kind, healthy man. I truly felt very moved to meet such an outstanding figure, who has played such an important role throughout the entire world.

"We talked about history, about Latin America, about the world’s problems. I explained to him that our Revolution had never been anti-religious.

"I met a Pope with great personality, with exceptional characteristics, who has played an important role in today’s world and, therefore, was necessarily a meeting of a special nature for me.

Later, in January 1998, a few hours before the scheduled arrival of the Supreme Pontiff in Havana, Fidel made an appearance on national television and recalled the meeting.