March 17, 2012. (Romereports.com) John Paul II was the first pope to visit the island of Cuba. It took place in 1998, just over 13 years ago. At that time, Joaquin Navarro-Valls was the spokesman for the Vatican. He still remembers how the historic meeting between John Paul II and Fidel Castro developed.

He says it was “a unique journey,” that required him to personally meet with Castro before the pope's visit.


Joaquín Navarro-Valls
Former Vatican spokesman
“The trip developed very normally. I have to say that Castro was very courteous and the pope spoke with a great amount of clarity.”

Once on the island, the pope was forceful in his statements. Navarro-Valls says John Paul II defended “fundamental human values and freedom of worship, the same message the pope brought to all the countries he visited”.

Joaquín Navarro-Valls
Former Vatican spokesman
“On the afternoon he ended the trip, we were in the airport waiting for the plane. In a farewell speech by Castro, he said 'thank you for all you have said in this country, even for things with which I can not agree'. He said it in a very delicate and polite way. Of course if he would have agreed on everything with the pope, that would have changed, but that didn't happen.”

Joaquin Navarro-Valls was spokesman for the Vatican for 22 years. He accompanied John Paul II on his visits to 128 countries across the globe.


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