Pope Benedict stated that communism had failed in Cuba and offered the Church's assistance in developing a new economic model. The Cuban government responded cautiously to his remarks ahead of his upcoming visit to the island. During a press conference on the plane to Mexico and Cuba, the Catholic leader acknowledged that Marxist ideology no longer aligns with reality. He emphasized the need for patience and constructive efforts to create new societal models. Benedict's remarks were more critical of communism than those made by his predecessor, John Paul II, during his visit to Cuba in 1998. The surprising remarks by the Pope were unexpected due to the improved relationship between the Church and government in Cuba in recent years. It was believed that the Pope would avoid controversial topics to prevent any issues. However, Cuban leaders did not show any signs of being upset by his comments, as Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez stated that they would listen with respect to the Pope's words and valued the exchange of ideas, despite having strong convictions developed over their country's history. Elizardo Sanchez, who leads the independent Cuban Commission on Human Rights, commended the pope for demonstrating "the positive intentions of the Catholic Church and specifically Pope Benedict XVI regarding the situation in Cuba," though he expressed skepticism about the likelihood of significant change. Sanchez stated that the Cuban government lacks the motivation to implement the necessary political reforms. Pope John Paul II is most remembered for his conciliatory remarks during a Mass in Havana's Revolution Square, where he expressed hope for Cuba's potential to engage with the world. Pope Benedict acknowledged John Paul's efforts to promote collaboration and dialogue, recognizing that progress requires patience. Despite some progress, disagreements persist between the Cuban bishops and government on issues such as Church access to the media and religious education. The Church is aiming to increase its congregation in Cuba by utilizing the papal visit, as the number of followers has decreased significantly since the revolution. Many families left the country and government hostility also played a role in this decline. Church officials report that around 60 percent of the Cuban population has been baptized, but only about five percent attend mass regularly. Pope Benedict, who will be visiting Cuba for three days and holding large Masses in Havana and Santiago, offered the Church's assistance in facilitating a peaceful transition on the island. He emphasized the need for patience and decisiveness in this process. The pope expressed a desire to help promote a society that is fraternal and just, not only in Cuba but also around the world. The term "trauma" has been used by Church members to describe the potential challenges that may arise once Cuba's current leaders, including Fidel Castro and Raul Castro, are no longer in power. Cuba's leaders have acknowledged the need for improvement in the country's economic model, while strongly supporting the one-party communist political system. In 2010, Fidel Castro admitted to a reporter that the Cuban model was no longer working, leading some to believe that communism had failed in Cuba. However, Castro clarified that his comment was not a criticism of the communist revolution, but rather a reflection of the island's challenging economic circumstances. This statement indicated Castro's support for his brother's reforms to boost Cuba's economy and preserve the revolution. It remains uncertain whether Benedict will meet with Fidel, who governed Cuba for nearly five decades before stepping down due to age and health issues. The Vatican has stated that the pope is willing to meet with the elder, ailing Castro if he so desires. A recent report by Amnesty International highlighted a significant increase in harassment and detention of dissidents in Cuba over the past two years. When asked about defending human rights in Cuba during a plane ride, the pope emphasized that the Church always stands for freedom, including freedom of conscience and religion. Despite the release of 70 members of the dissident Ladies in White group who were detained over the weekend, Cuban authorities warned them not to participate in activities related to the pope's visit. The women, also known as the "Damas de Blanco," were arrested in separate incidents on Saturday and Sunday while attempting to march in Havana. On Friday, they could not be contacted by phone. Rodriguez cautioned that any attempts to disrupt the papal visit with political tactics will be unsuccessful as the Cuban people are patriotic and well-educated, proud of their culture and beliefs. The pope's schedule does not include any meetings with Cuban dissidents. The Vatican recently reiterated its disapproval of the US trade embargo on Cuba, deeming it ineffective and harmful to the average citizens. Despite reaching its 50th anniversary last month, the embargo remains a key component of US policy towards Cuba despite its failure to achieve its goal of destabilizing the communist regime. During the peak of the Cold War, Washington implemented a nearly complete trade embargo against Havana as a way to retaliate for its alliance with the Soviet Union and to possibly eliminate communism.