Castro in first church overtures

Castro in first church overtures
By Marc Frank

Published: May 24 2010 03:00 | Last updated: May 24 2010 03:00

Raúl Castro, Cuba's president, has suggested that the Roman Catholic
Church might play a larger role in solving the communist-run island's
ills and perhaps lead to the release of political prisoners.

Experts and diplomats judged Mr Castro's move his most significant
political act since replacing brother Fidel in early 2008.

Mr Castro held a four-hour meeting with Cardinal Jaime Ortega and Bishop
Dionisio Garcia of Santiago de Cuba, the head of the Conference of
Bishops. Cardinal Ortega said the meeting was a "magnificent beginning
of an ongoing process . . . a recognition of the role of the Church as
an interlocutor, of overcoming the old grievances".

Mr Ortega and Mr Garcia said the plight of political prisoners, of which
there are about 60 according to Amnesty International, was discussed
with Mr Castro and they were optimistic about the future.

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