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Havana buzzes with anticipation of pope visit

The Catholic Church and the state are promoting the pope's visit to the communist country.

January 19, 1998
Web posted at: 3:24 p.m. EST (2024 GMT)

HAVANA (CNN) -- Only two days before Pope John Paul II was due to pay a landmark visit to communist Cuba, the capital Havana was busy with last-minute preparations which included readying the white Popemobile and fixing potholes in Havana's streets.

In years past, the pope would kiss the ground when he arrived in a new country. But now, because of his frail health, he will be welcomed at Jose Marti International Airport by two children carrying a basket of earth, so that the pontiff won't have to stoop to the ground to kiss Cuban soil.

CNN's Sean Callebs reports on preparations 1 min. VXtreme streaming audio

As both the state and the Catholic Church are busy promoting the first-ever visit by a pope to this communist country, believers and non-believers alike were waiting in anticipation.

"We've been waiting for years for him to come. We've never seen a pope," said one resident in the capital. "For us believers the visit is very important. I think it will reaffirm our faith," a woman told CNN.

Preparing for the papal visit, a street worker patches holes in a Havana road

The international media also have been fascinated by the historic visit and the authorities have issued about 3,000 invitations to journalists and technicians.

The Catholic Church has been careful to prepare the people in Cuba not to expect political or economic changes, warning Cubans that the pope does not make miracles. But many believers would probably argue that the mere fact the pope is coming to the homeland of veteran leader Fidel Castro is a miracle in itself.

Havana Bureau Chief Lucia Newman contributed to this report.

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