International Affairs
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Cubans Joyous over Castro’s Death
On Friday night, November 25, 2016, Cuban dictator Fidel Castro finally died at age 90. As news of the death of the communist leader spread across South Florida, Miami’s Cuban community took to the streets in the middle of the night to celebrate, cheering, singing and dancing. The public fêtes continued into the weekend.
Castro was the symbol of the Communist Revolution that had wreaked such disaster in the lives of Cubans of all classes – destroying their religion, families, traditions, confiscating their homes, properties and business, murdering and torturing dissenters, imprisoning their loved ones and who dared resist. And so, at the news of his death, they banged drums, pots and pans, shouted and rejoiced over the death of the tyrant who had turned their country, once known as the Pearl of the Caribbean, into a miserable Island-Prison.
These are Cubans whose families have suffered under the tyranny of Fidel, and now that of his his brother Raul Castro, for over five decades. They know firsthand of Fidel’s firing squads that slaughtered innocent people. They saw their religion criminalized, priests and nuns deported or imprisoned, their property confiscated by the Communist State and their friends who dissented violently punished. And so they rejoice at the death of the tyrant who never paid for his atrocious crimes on this earth, but now has answered before the God he reviled and outraged.
Not everyone was rejoicing, however. Fellow travelers in Communism send words of praise and condolences. Naturally, Russian President Vladimir Putin eulogized the proletarian leader as a “distinguished stateman” and “a sincere and reliable friend of Russia.” Former president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev joined the applause, honoring Castro for “standing up to the US” and leading his country to the path of self-sustained and independent development.”
Implausible words, since it was the Soviet Union that propped up the Castro regime for years, sending billions to its coffers. When it collapsed, Cuba has had to rely on Venezuela oil money and whatever scrappings it could find. Today, Cuba’s economy is a labyrinth of ruins and his boasted social welfare projects are clearly fraudulent.
Condolences from other communist corners poured in: Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed Castro’s role in spreading Communism in the world and mourned the loss of such “a close comrade.” Venezuela’s socialist President Nicolas Maduro, under threat of impeachment for his corrupt regime, appeared on TV to cheer on the Cuban Communist Revolution. “We will keep on winning and fighting,” he said, “Fidel Castro is an example of the fight for all the people in the world.”
The communist presidents of Ecuador, Bolivia and El Salvador also sent eulogies and words of gratitude for Cuba’s role in fostering their revolutions.
Francis singing in the communist choir
Leftists praising Castro and mourning his death – this is to be expected.
However, to find Pope Bergoglio among the first to join this grim list of grievers is more surprising. On Saturday, in the morning after Castro died, Francis publicly expressed his “sorrow” over the demise of the “dignitary” in a telegram to Raul. His words:
“Upon receiving the sad news of the death of your dear brother, His Excellency Lord [Señor] Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, former president of the State Council and of the Government of the Republic of Cuba, I express my sentiments of sorrow to Your Excellency and other family members of the deceased dignitary, as well as to the people of this beloved nation. At the same time, I offer prayers to the Lord for his rest.”
Traditionally, the Holy See only sends out such telegrams of condolence for a leader who dies in office, but for the tyrant Castro, Francis made this honorific exception.
It is ironic. This Pope, champion of the immigrants and the Masonic ideal of liberty and human rights, mourns the man who violated the freedom and other basic rights of a whole people for more than 50 years, and caused a million others to flee the Island and seek refuge abroad. Once again, Francis shows his red colors, blatantly and shamefully so in this case.
Let me note, it is not just the outrageously progressivist Francis who has provided support for Castro’s Cuba with his two visits to the Island. Both John Paul II and Benedict XVI went to Cuba to bolster the prestige of Communism at times when the red regime was floundering. Three Popes embraced Castro and treated him as a dear friend, instead of castigating him for his errors and condemning a regime that openly violates the Commandments and opresses the Catholic Faith.
The deal brokered by Pope Francis and Obama in January 2015 to soften the embargo against Cuba put the Church and the U.S. on the wrong side of history. Instead of pushing for an authentic liberty, the Popes and the U.S. have legitimized the Western Hemisphere’s longest communist dictatorship.
Emboldened by this support, the regime has produced historic levels of political and religious persecution in the past two years. In 2015, there were more than 8,616 documented political arrests in Cuba, and the number is expected to top 10,000 in 2016.
Despite Francis, faithful Catholics are rejoicing with the exiled Cubans at Fidel Castro’s death. We are also mindful that Cuba remains enslaved under a communist tyranny and we ask Our Lady of Charity – Nuestra Señora de la Caridade del Cobre – to bring an end to the revolution that sadly now relies on the assistance of the post-conciliar Popes.
A graphic video of how Castro came to power can be viewed here.
Castro was the symbol of the Communist Revolution that had wreaked such disaster in the lives of Cubans of all classes – destroying their religion, families, traditions, confiscating their homes, properties and business, murdering and torturing dissenters, imprisoning their loved ones and who dared resist. And so, at the news of his death, they banged drums, pots and pans, shouted and rejoiced over the death of the tyrant who had turned their country, once known as the Pearl of the Caribbean, into a miserable Island-Prison.
Cubans celebrate the death of Fidel Castro...
and anticipate his judgment without sorrow
Not everyone was rejoicing, however. Fellow travelers in Communism send words of praise and condolences. Naturally, Russian President Vladimir Putin eulogized the proletarian leader as a “distinguished stateman” and “a sincere and reliable friend of Russia.” Former president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev joined the applause, honoring Castro for “standing up to the US” and leading his country to the path of self-sustained and independent development.”
Implausible words, since it was the Soviet Union that propped up the Castro regime for years, sending billions to its coffers. When it collapsed, Cuba has had to rely on Venezuela oil money and whatever scrappings it could find. Today, Cuba’s economy is a labyrinth of ruins and his boasted social welfare projects are clearly fraudulent.
Condolences from other communist corners poured in: Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed Castro’s role in spreading Communism in the world and mourned the loss of such “a close comrade.” Venezuela’s socialist President Nicolas Maduro, under threat of impeachment for his corrupt regime, appeared on TV to cheer on the Cuban Communist Revolution. “We will keep on winning and fighting,” he said, “Fidel Castro is an example of the fight for all the people in the world.”
The communist presidents of Ecuador, Bolivia and El Salvador also sent eulogies and words of gratitude for Cuba’s role in fostering their revolutions.
Francis singing in the communist choir
Leftists praising Castro and mourning his death – this is to be expected.
However, to find Pope Bergoglio among the first to join this grim list of grievers is more surprising. On Saturday, in the morning after Castro died, Francis publicly expressed his “sorrow” over the demise of the “dignitary” in a telegram to Raul. His words:
“Upon receiving the sad news of the death of your dear brother, His Excellency Lord [Señor] Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, former president of the State Council and of the Government of the Republic of Cuba, I express my sentiments of sorrow to Your Excellency and other family members of the deceased dignitary, as well as to the people of this beloved nation. At the same time, I offer prayers to the Lord for his rest.”
Three Popes traveled to Cuba to embrace the tyrant and bolster the communist regime
It is ironic. This Pope, champion of the immigrants and the Masonic ideal of liberty and human rights, mourns the man who violated the freedom and other basic rights of a whole people for more than 50 years, and caused a million others to flee the Island and seek refuge abroad. Once again, Francis shows his red colors, blatantly and shamefully so in this case.
Let me note, it is not just the outrageously progressivist Francis who has provided support for Castro’s Cuba with his two visits to the Island. Both John Paul II and Benedict XVI went to Cuba to bolster the prestige of Communism at times when the red regime was floundering. Three Popes embraced Castro and treated him as a dear friend, instead of castigating him for his errors and condemning a regime that openly violates the Commandments and opresses the Catholic Faith.
The deal brokered by Pope Francis and Obama in January 2015 to soften the embargo against Cuba put the Church and the U.S. on the wrong side of history. Instead of pushing for an authentic liberty, the Popes and the U.S. have legitimized the Western Hemisphere’s longest communist dictatorship.
Emboldened by this support, the regime has produced historic levels of political and religious persecution in the past two years. In 2015, there were more than 8,616 documented political arrests in Cuba, and the number is expected to top 10,000 in 2016.
Despite Francis, faithful Catholics are rejoicing with the exiled Cubans at Fidel Castro’s death. We are also mindful that Cuba remains enslaved under a communist tyranny and we ask Our Lady of Charity – Nuestra Señora de la Caridade del Cobre – to bring an end to the revolution that sadly now relies on the assistance of the post-conciliar Popes.
A graphic video of how Castro came to power can be viewed here.
Posted November 28, 2016
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