Pope Benedict stated that communism had failed in Cuba and offered the Church's assistance in developing a new economic model. His remarks, made during a plane journey to Mexico and Cuba, received a cautious response from the Cuban government. The Pope emphasized that Marxist ideology no longer aligns with reality and stressed the need for patience and constructive efforts to create new societal models. These comments were more direct and critical than those made by his predecessor, John Paul II, during his visit to Cuba 14 years ago. The Church and government in Cuba have improved their relationship in recent years, leading many to believe that the pope would avoid controversial topics during his visit. However, Cuban leaders did not show any signs of being upset by his comments, as Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez emphasized the importance of respecting all opinions and engaging in the exchange of ideas. Elizardo Sanchez, leader of the Cuban Commission on Human Rights, commended the pope for demonstrating the Catholic Church's good intentions, particularly Pope Benedict XVI's stance on Cuba. Despite this, Sanchez expressed skepticism about the possibility of significant change, citing the government's lack of willingness to make necessary political reforms. Pope John Paul II's famous words in Revolution Square urged Cuba to embrace its potential and engage with the world, a sentiment echoed by Pope Benedict, who highlighted the importance of collaboration and dialogue. Although progress has been made in resolving certain disputes, disagreements persist between the Cuban bishops and the government on issues such as media access and religious education. The Church is aiming to increase its congregation in Cuba through the upcoming papal visit, as the number of followers has decreased since the revolution due to factors like families leaving and government hostility. Church officials estimate that around 60 percent of Cuba's population has been baptized, but only five percent regularly attend mass. During his visit, Pope Benedict will offer the Church's support in helping Cuba achieve a peaceful transition, emphasizing the need for patience and decisiveness. The Church hopes to assist in fostering a society that is fraternal and just, and to avoid any potential difficulties that may arise in the future when Cuba's current aging 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. Fidel Castro's statement in 2010 to a reporter from the Atlantic magazine that the "Cuban model doesn't even work for us any more" was seen by some as an acknowledgement of communism's failure in Cuba. However, Castro later clarified that his remark was not a criticism of the communist revolution but rather a reflection on Cuba's challenging economic conditions. This indicated his support for his brother's efforts to implement modest reforms to boost the country's struggling economy and uphold the revolution. The question remains whether Benedict will meet with Fidel, who led Cuba for 49 years 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 desires. According to a report from Amnesty International, there has been a significant increase in harassment and detention of dissidents in Cuba over the past two years. When asked about defending human rights in Cuba, the pope responded by affirming the Church's support for freedom of conscience and religion. On Monday, Cuba released 70 members of the dissident Ladies in White group who had been detained over the weekend, but cautioned them against participating in activities related to the pope's visit. The women, also known as the "Damas de Blanco," were released without charges after being arrested in separate incidents when they tried to march in Havana. Rodriguez cautioned that attempts to disrupt the papal visit through political means will be unsuccessful, as the Cuban people are patriotic, educated, and proud of their culture and beliefs. The Vatican recently reiterated its disapproval of the US trade embargo against Cuba, labeling it as ineffective and harmful to the citizens. Despite being in place for 50 years, the embargo remains a key component of US policy towards Cuba, despite its failure to weaken the communist regime. During the peak of the Cold War, Washington implemented a nearly complete trade embargo on Havana as a way to retaliate against its alliance with the Soviet Union and to try to eradicate communism.