Cuban Catholics Want Their Own Pope Visit

Cuban Roman Catholics, closely following Pope John Paul II’s trip to Miami on U.S. radio stations, said Friday that they hoped the pontiff would visit the Communist nation.

Cubans who listened to the extensive coverage of the Pope’s tour on U.S. stations, such as the government station Radio Marti, said that they could not help but think of a Cuban visit, if only because the Pope was in Miami, home to more than half a million Cuban exiles.

The official Cuban media reported only briefly, and without comment, on the Pope’s visit. Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who has softened his stance against the Roman Catholic Church over the last few years, has made it clear that he would be delighted to welcome the Pope.