LAST Saturday, Pope John Paul II has reiterated his condemnation of the U.S. blockade of Cuba and affirmed that a solution must be found so that the country can experience “authentic development”, during a speech at the official ceremony to receive the letters of accreditation for Raúl Roa Kourí, Cuba’s new ambassador to the Holy See, according to a report by ANSA from Vatican City.

The Vatican strongly desires that “the obstacles preventing free communication and exchange between Cuba and one part of the international community” may be overcome, affirmed the Pontiff. In that way, “through respectful and open dialogue between all involved, the conditions necessary for authentic development” could be guaranteed, he added.

The Pope expressed his thanks for the greetings sent by President Fidel Castro and invited the Cuban people to continue the efforts they have maintained in the fields of health, education and the various expressions of culture.

Those conditions of human existence are the pillars “of the house of peace, which does not just signify an absence of war, but the ability of all members of society to enjoy integral human development in health and in the harmonious growth of body and spirit,” underlined the Pontiff.

(Granma) January 10, 2005