Posted on 11/26/2016 7:26:50 PM PST by 2nd amendment mama
Pope Francis sent his condolences following the death of infamous atheist and former Cuban President Fidel Castro Saturday.
“I express to you my sentiments of grief,” said Francis in a message to Castro’s brother, President Raul Castro. He noted that he grieved over the “sad news” and would pray for the former dictator.
Castro died Friday night at the age of 90. He was baptized Catholic and educated by the same Jesuit order to which Francis belongs. Despite his religious upbringing, Castro was a vocal atheist and declared Cuba an atheist state when he rose to power in 1959. He suppressed the Catholic church during his reign, sending priests to re-education camps and restricting the celebration of holidays. Castro was reportedly excommunicated under an anti-Communist decree by Pope Pius XII in 1962
The Catholic church lived on in Cuba, despite the Castro regime’s best efforts to destroy it. While only ten percent of Cubans are practicing Catholics, half identify as such. The Vatican intentionally maintained relations with Cuba throughout the Castro era, despite its generally anti-Communist policy. Local Catholic charities provided relief work in Cuba, particularly after Castro lessened restrictions on religion after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict and Pope Francis all visited the island nation in years following the changes.
Francis, like Castro, is a critic of unregulated capitalism. He is believed to have played a major role in the cessation of the decades-long U.S. embargo on Cuba.
“I will resume praying and turn to the church again if the pope continues in this vein,” said Raul Castro while visiting Rome in May, 2015. “I mean what I say.”
Follow Russ Read on Twitter
Send tips to russ@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
And nothing for the innocent dead in Chicago on a daily basis.
Liberation theology.
How did el commie papa deal with Che’s Death?
How Catholics can tolerate this moral fraud is beyond me.
This takes turning the other cheek too far.
The Catholic Church needs to get a Pope who reports to God.
Grieve Frankie, Grieve.
I wonder what he’d say if Trump died.
I hope we never get to find out and that Francis meets God first.
We ain't liking it. But, we don't wear the red dresses that elect the doofus wearing the white dress.
#FakePope
Whatta lefty, whatta lefty.
If I hadn’t seen that Christ could save a goofball like me, I’d question whether He could save a goofball like this (somehow he manages to stay rightside up on pro-life, however).
#PopeChe
Is it? Look, if my son were excommunicated and died having never sought to come back to Christ, I would be sad for the fact that he was lost. It’s one thing if he simply died, it’s another to realize that it is your kid who went against God and didn’t return to the fold before he was called to meet him.
This guy leads the christian community? disgraceful disgusting, he grieves the death of a murderer
Thats what Jesuit Marxists do. No mentions of the innocents killed for the state. Won’t go on, Trump nailed a lot of this today.
Prayers up for the Catholic Brethren on FR are that are being tested. Not a Catholic but am also not blind. Many of the other believers in Christ are praying for you!!! Not going to question what many of my personal Catholic friends are going through as well, I hear it though. You have are Prayers, Love and Understanding!
Well we have two tails (Raul and Francis) and only one dog. Which one shall do the wagging?
>>This guy leads the christian community?
No, he does not.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.