” “"Cuba should open to the world and the world should open to Cuba": Benedict XVI repeated today the appeal made by John Paul II during his vsit to Cuba, in the letter sent to cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino, archbishop of San Cristóbal de La Habana and president of the Cuban Bishops Conference, on the occasion of the XX anniversary of the Cuban National Church Meeting (Enec). "An opening writes the Pope that demands first of all that we understand how to open our hearts and wills to the things of God; how to open up to our neighbours, believing and confiding in each other, even if there are different ways of thinking or different beliefs: and finally how to open up to the sphere of the world, with the challenges of its opportunities as well as its difficulties". This can be done, according to Benedict XVI, only "through the eyes of God, eyes of love" that know how to "get to the truth of everyone, of every group and of all those who live in one land". Great help can be given by the experience of praying "in the silence and humbleness of daily work, in the loyalty to one’s professed faith, in the implicit and explicit announcement of the Gospel". The Pope sent his regards to priests, religious people and lay devotees and reassured of his "spiritual closeness". And he invited them to "discover in the lived experience" "the signs and the signals of the living God who walks with you. Who walks with all those who live on earth, believers and non believers, distant and near ones".” “
