(Patrizia Caiffa, SIR correspondent from Cuba). The building of new churches for the devotees’ needs, more coverage on the official mass media, a better charitable and social action by the Church: these are some of the emergencies to be faced by the Cuban Church as stated by the clergy and the congregation, which will probably be submitted today to card. Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State of the Holy See, in the official meeting with the Cuban bishops in the morning, on the first day of his visit to Cuba (until 26th February) to celebrate the 10th anniversary of John Paul II’s epoch-making journey (18-25 January 1998). Card. Bertone will travel around the country on an airplane provided by the government, with a delegation of 25 people, including the Cuban bishops, the archbishop and apostolic nuncio to Cuba, mgr. Luigi Bonazzi, the ambassador to the Holy See, Raul Roa Kourì, and some government delegates. Tonight’s celebration, in the square in front of the Cathedral of Havana, will be attended by many authorities, including the president of Parliament, Ricardo Alarcon, the president of the party and the minister of the cultural heritage. And, for the first time, even if official confirmation will come later in the day, Mass could even be broadcasted by the "educational TV channel". This does not normally happen in Cuba. (continued)
