CUBA-RELIGION: Not Even Pope’s Visit Escapes Effects of Crisis

By Dalia Acosta Reprint | | Print |

Dalia Acosta

HAVANA, Oct 28 1997 (IPS) - Not even the planned January visit of Pope John Paul II will escape the effects of the economic crisis gripping Cuba since 1990.

It is still not clear how the state and the local Roman Catholic Church will provide transportation, food, drinking water and sanitation services to all those wishing to see the Pontiff, and housing for those coming from abroad.

Tties which are beyond the will” of the Cuban government.

“Some of tcountry’s leading export product – rose from 3.3 million tonnes in 1995 to 4.4 million. But the government’s economic projections have steadily dropped this year, with authorities recently recognising that growth in 1997 will be close to two percent, a far cry from earlier predictions of five percent.

Navarro said the “problems pendinsses could be affected by Cuba’s shortage of fuel and transport facilities, a problem the local clergy will be unable to resolve without assistance from the Vatican. Not only is there a scarcity of gasolineicing Catholics, but will be hard pressed to foot the bill for a massive pilgrimage or to satisfy the desires of the curious.

But in Havana, home to 2.2 million of Cuba’s 1’Plaza de la Revolucion’ is expected to be packed.

Added to the “material” problems ly wants space in the media in Cuba, but “its own m’ as well.

As the Pope’s visit draws near, the state-coalso remains on hold, after an initial gesture by the government which granted some 40 permits last year.

There are around 280 Catholic priests practifrom sufficient.

In spite of almost four decades of state-imp-SO/DA/DG/SW/97)

CUBA-RELIGION: Not Even Pope’s Visit Escapes Effects of Crisis

By Dalia Acosta Reprint | | Print |

Dalia Acosta

HAVANA, Oct 28 1997 (IPS) - Not even the planned January visit of Pope John Paul II will escape the effects of the economic crisis gripping Cuba since 1990.
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