Introduction
Cuban President Fidel Castro (Photo Credit: Reuters/1993) December 12, 1997 The CQ Researcher Pages 1081 - 1104© 1997, Congressional Quarterly Inc. All rights reserved.
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When Fidel Castro welcomes Pope John Paul II to Cuba in January, it will be yet another indication that the communist nation may be opening up. As further evidence of the trend, some Cuba-watchers point to increased freedom of worship and the small but steady steps toward a market economy. But to others, the papal trip merely reflects Castro's search for new allies to prop up his unpopular, economically struggling regime. The United States, meanwhile, continues its strict trade and travel embargo in an effort to force Castro to move toward democracy. But embargo opponents say that the U.S. sanctions hurt ordinary Cubans and help Castro, by giving him a powerful propaganda tool to use at home and abroad.
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