{UAH} Cuba's President Raoul Castro intends to reconvert to Catholicism

Today Sunday 10 May 2015 at 10 am in Rome Pope Francis received an important

visitor, Communist President Raoul Castro of Cuba, with whom he he had an audience

lasting for 45 minutes. Coming out of this privately confidential  meeting with the Pope Castro expressed 

his gratefulness to the Pope for having very successfully carried out an important mission on mediation between

Cuba and the USA. In a press conference in Rome later on the Cuban leader pointed to the Pope's intelligence and

very keen vision on global issues as well as the very sympathetic brotherly welcome he had accorded him. he continued to

stress that if the Pope continues on this path he (Raoul Castro) will not hesitate to return to the old faith which he abandoned

when he embraced communism. And he pointed out that during the forthcoming Papal visit to Cuba next September (2015) he

would attend all the Masses the Pope would pontificate. Castrro expressed some pride to his education and upbringing in a Jesuit school.

And he observed that things were going on very well between the regime and the Roman Catholic Church in Cuba.

Shortly after meeting Castro the Pope appeared in the window of his study and recited the Regina Caeli prayer and addressed the assembled

crowd estimated at 150,000. he touched on the scriptural passage of the day, and eventually seized the opportunity to congratulate the mothers

on this Mothers Day. He requested the vast crowd to applaud all mothers present in St Peter's Square and reminded that there were two categories

of mothers, those who were always with us physically and those who accompanied us spiritually.

As usual the Pope saluted all pilgrims present. They came from all corners of the world.

Now that weather has improved in Rome Pope Francis's papal crowds have equally begun to swell to enormous propotions. Every Wednesday, for the

general weekly audience, and every Sunday for the Easter time Regina Caeli prayer, St peter's Square is literally invaded by hordes of pilgrims numbering

between 100,000 to 200,000 !! And the Africans are gradually coming back. Their very high pitch ululations are there to inform about their presence in the

Square! Very many pilgrims from India, China, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Middle East, Nigeria, South Africa, etc  are some of the very many faces all are now accustomed to in the Square. They all enjoy the Pope's preaching which draws great cheers, applauses and ululations from the vast assembly. And they also feel his physical presence on Wednesday  before he opens the audience as he circulates in his popemobile among the vast crowds.

In a few months time Pope Francis will visit the USA where he will preside many programmes. Flashes in form of ads presented by the Archbishop of Philadelphia in the US are passing on French TV calling upon all to try an,d make it to the American city to join the faithful in welcoming Pope Francis

next September. The Pope is very popular over there and a recent opinion poll put his popularity ratings to close to 90% !

It seems certain that after the American visit Pope Francis may take the opportunity to visit his native Argentina and other countries in Latin America.

And possibly after that he may announce the names of countries he would eventually visit in Africa. The Black Continent, which has the fastest growing

Catholicism is a crucial area to the Vatican. It's the place where a Pope is exceptionally almost venerated as a very special figure yet it hosts many of the

most complicated problems for which special messages of address must be carefully prepared. Very many issues need to be looked at and proposals put

forward for effective solutions. During the last conclave that elected Pope Francis much was said in the popular world press about Africa. And among the most thorny problems aired to world attention was the fact about endemic corruption on the continent which even many of the most influential Catholics haven't openly come out to condemn with vigour! Africa really needs a Papal visit to help the continent hear many promising things from this prophetical Pope!

Dr G.H. Kkolokolo  ( Paris / France )