CUBA: POPE JOHN PAUL II AND PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO MEET FOR HISTORIC PRIVATE TALKS

Record ID: 987785

  • Title: CUBA: POPE JOHN PAUL II AND PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO MEET FOR HISTORIC PRIVATE TALKS
  • Date: 22nd January 1998
  • Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (JANUARY 22, 1998) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV/MV/CU: PEOPLE WAITING OUTSIDE THE POPE'S RESIDENCE (3 SHOTS) 0.21 2. GV: OFFICIAL CARS WAITING OUTSIDE RESIDENCE 0.26 3. MCU: PEOPLE WAITING FOR THE POPE 0.30 4. CU: UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN SAYING "I AM SURE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING THEY CAN TALK ABOUT THAT WILL BENEFIT US AND THE ENTIRE COUNTRY" (SPANISH) 0.40 5. CU: UNIDENTIFIED MAN SAYING "WITH THIS ENCOUNTER WE CAN SEE THAT EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A SOCIALIST SYSTEM THAT IS REVELUTIONARY, WE CAN ALSO ACCEPT PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS AND THIS PROVES TO THE REST OF THE WORLD THAT CUBA IS A REAL DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY" (SPANISH) 0.56 6. GV: PAPAL MOTORCADE 1.11 7. GV: EXTERIOR OF REVELUTIONARY PLAZA 1.13 8. GV: HONOUR GUARDS 1.16 9. SV: POPE ENTERS AND SHAKES HANDS WITH CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO 1.37 10. CU: CUBAN AND VATICAN FLAGS 1.39 11. GV: POPE JOHN PAUL II AND FIDEL CASTRO WALKING INTO PALACE (2 SHOTS) 2.06 12. GV: CATHOLIC OFFICIALS INSIDE THE PALACE 2.09 13. MV: POPE DELIVERING GIFTS TO CUBAN OFFICIALS (2 SHOTS) 2.21 14. MV: POPE AND CASTRO SHAKING HANDS 2.27 15. GV: VARIOUS OF BISHOPS AND OTHER OFFICIALS ATTENDING THE MEETING 2.34 16. GV: POPE AND CASTRO SEATED 2.47 17. CU/MC: CASTRO HOLDING A BOOK HE OFFERS TO THE POPE (2 SHOTS) 2.57 19. GV: POPE JOHN PAUL II AND CASTRO WITH CARDINALS AND BISHOPS WAVING IN FRONT OF THE REVOLUTION PALACE 3.08 20. MV: POPE WAVING FROM INSIDE VEHICLE, CASTRO WAVING AT THE POPE (2 SHOTS) 3.14 21. GV: MOTORCADE DEPARTING 3.25 Initials S.3 - P.3 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 5th February 1998 12:00
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  • Location: HAVANA, CUBA
  • City:
  • Country: Cuba CARIBBEAN
  • Reuters ID: LVAEM1QRSIC6E0YEFO3CAESAZHV6
  • Story Text:INTRO: Pope John Paul and Cuban President Fidel Castro met for historic private meetings in Havana after the Pope celebrated mass in Santa Clara.

    Pope John Paul entered the hallowed center of Cuba's communist regime on Thursday, (January 22) meeting President Fidel Castro for private talks at the Palace of the Revolution in central Havana.

    Cuban President Fidel Castro greeted the 77-year-old Pontiff, who celebrated an open-air Mass in the central city of Santa Clara earlier in the day, and escorted him along the palace's corridors, chatting warmly.

    A Cuban military honor guard, wearing crisp navy and cream ceremonial uniforms rather than the olive green military dress normally seen at such functions, saluted the Pontiff.

    The two towering figures of the late 20th century were scheduled to talk for around 35 minutes.

    Before beginning their conversation in a private room, the two men posed for photographs and shook hands with members of each other's staff. The Pope presented medals commemorating his pontificate to officials of Castro's government.

    As at Havana airport, where Castro met the Pontiff on Thursday, the Cuban president was solicitous of the Pope's fragile health, reaching out a protective arm on several occasions and measuring his step to match his guest's slower gait.

    The Pontiff is due to celebrate Masses in the central town of Camaguey on Friday, in the eastern city of Santiago on Saturday and in Havana's Revolution Square on Sunday.
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