Benedict and the Cuban church

National Catholic Register reporter Victor Gaetan, writing in Foreign Affairs, looks ahead to the Pope’s visit:

When Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba next month, he will once again reinforce a strategy that the Vatican has allowed the local Catholic Church there to pursue for more than three decades: diligently avoid any political confrontation with the Castro regime, collaborate with Havana to combat the U.S.-led embargo, and support the Cuban government's incremental economic reforms. In exchange, the Church has been able to maintain a certain amount of autonomy on the island, allowing it to rebuild its presence and position for the possible post-Castro economic boom times to come.

An article from Mr. Gaetan about the opening of the new seminary outside Havana is here.