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UP FRONT A3
Monday 21 September 2015
Pope Meets Fidel Castro After Warning Against Ideology
N. WINFIELD Francis called on Castro than 10 percent practice In his homily delivered un- ideas, we serve people.”
M. WEISSENSTEIN after celebrating Mass in their faith and Cuba is the der the gaze of a metal Many Cubans complain
Associated Press Havana’s main plaza on his least Catholic country in portrait of revolutionary about the rigidity of Cuba’s
HAVANA (AP) — Pope first full day in Cuba. Believ- Latin America. The crowd fighter Che Guevara, Fran- system in which nearly ev-
Francis met with Fidel Cas- ers and non-believers alike was not as big as when St. cis urged Cubans to care ery aspect of life is con-
tro on Sunday after urging streamed into the square John Paul II became the for one another out of a trolled by the government,
thousands of Cubans to before dawn, and they first pope to visit the island sense of service, not ideol- from cultural institutions to
serve one another and not erupted in cheers when his- in 1998, but it drew people ogy. He encouraged them block-level neighborhood
an ideology, delivering a tory’s first Latin American who seemed to genuinely to refrain from judging watch committees. While
subtle jab at the commu- the system has softened in
nist system during a Mass Pope Francis arrives to celebrate Mass in Revolution Square in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, Sept. 20, recent years, Cubans can
celebrated under the gaze 2015. Pope Francis opens his first full day in Cuba on Sunday with what normally would be the be excluded or lose ben-
of an image of Che Gue- culminating highlight of a papal visit: Mass before hundreds of thousands of people in Havana’s efits if they are perceived
vara in Havana’s iconic Revolution Plaza. as being disloyal or unfaith-
Revolution Plaza. The Vati- ful to the principles of the
can described the 40-min- (Tony Gentile/POOL via AP) revolution. Cubans are also
ute meeting at Castro’s increasingly concerned
residence as informal and pope spun through the want to be there and listen each other by “looking to about growing inequality
familial, with an exchange crowd in his open-sided to Francis’ message. one side or the other to see on the communist island,
of books and discussion popemobile. Francis didn’t “This is very important for what our neighbor is doing in which those with access
about big issues facing disappoint, winding his way us,” said Mauren Gomez, or not doing.” to foreign capital live lives
humanity, including Fran- slowly through the masses 40, who traveled some 250 “Whoever wishes to be of relative luxury while oth-
cis’ recent encyclical on and stopping to kiss chil- kilometers (155 miles) from great must serve others, not ers can barely feed them-
the environment and the dren held up to him. Villa Clara to Havana by be served by others,” he selves, generating jealousy
global economic system. While most Cubans are bus, spending her time re- said. “Service is never ideo- and division within families
Unlike the 2012 visit of Bene- nominally Catholic, fewer citing the Rosary. logical, for we do not serve and society at large.
dict XVI, when Castro pep- “Being a Christian entails
pered the German theo- promoting the dignity of
logian with questions, the our brothers and sisters,
meeting with Francis was fighting for it, living for it,”
more of a conversation, Francis told the crowd.
papal spokesman the Rev. “That is why Christians are
Frederico Lombardi said. constantly called to set
A photo provided by Alex aside their own wishes
Castro, Fidel’s son and offi- and desires, their pursuit of
cial photographer, showed power, and to look instead
the 89-year-old former to those who are most
president and Francis look- vulnerable.” Maria Regla
ing into each other’s eye González, a 57-year-old
as they shook hands, the teacher, said she appreci-
pope in his white vestments ated Francis’ message of
and Castro in a white but- reconciliation and unity for
ton-down shirt and Adi- all Cubans, and said Fran-
das sweat top. Castro ap- cis was particularly able to
peared to be gripping an- convey it given he is Latin
other, unidentified man for American and speaks their
support. language.q
Kerry: US to accept 85,000 refugees in 2016, 100,000 in 2017
KEN DILANIAN Walter Steinmeier after US Secretary of State John Kerry meets with refugees fleeing adding that the U.S.
AP Intelligence Writer they discussed the mass Syria, at Villa Borsig, on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015, in Berlin. cannot take shortcuts
BERLIN (AP) — Scrambling migration of Syrians fleeing on security checks. U.S.
to address a growing their civil war. Many, though (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool) lawmakers immediately
Syrian refugee crisis, U.S. not all, of the additional expressed concerns about
Secretary of State John refugees would be Syrian, the potential influx.
Kerry announced Sunday American officials have The Islamic State group and
that the United States said. Others would come other terrorist organizations
would significantly increase from strife-torn areas of “have made it abundantly
the number of worldwide Africa. The White House clear that they will use the
migrants it takes in over had previously announced refugee crisis to try to enter
the next two years, though it intended to take in 10,000 the United States. Now the
not by nearly the amount additional Syrian refugees Obama administration
many activists and former over the next year. wants to bring in an
officials have urged. Asked why the U.S. couldn’t additional 10,000 Syrians
The U.S. will accept 85,000 take more, Kerry cited without a concrete and
refugees from around the post-Sept. 11 screening foolproof plan to ensure
world next year, up from requirements and a lack of that terrorists won’t be able
70,000, and that total money made available by to enter the country,” said
would rise to 100,000 in Congress. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley,
2017, Kerry said at news “We’re doing what we R-Iowa, and U.S. Rep. Bob
conference with German know we can manage Goodlatte, R-Va.q
Foreign Minister Frank- immediately,” he said,
