Pope Thanks Castro for Cuban Christmas

Pope John Paul II has thanked Cuban leader Fidel Castro for allowing Christmas to be celebrated as an official holiday.

“I want to express to you my deep appreciation for the decision to give back to Christmas its holiday character for all Cubans, conforming to tradition,” the pope said in a telegram to Castro. He also wished Castro a happy holiday.

The telegram was sent to Castro on Dec. 23 but only made public by the Vatican on Monday.

In 1997, Cubans were officially allowed to celebrate their first Christmas since the Castro-led government abolished it as a recognized holiday in 1969. The celebration was meant to be a gesture of goodwill by Castro in anticipation of the pope’s January 1998 visit to the island.

In November, the Cuban government declared Christmas an official holiday and this year allowed the local Roman Catholic Church the rare privilege of broadcasting a national greeting on state radio.

John Paul, in his telegram to Castro, said he was praying that “this noble country, always present in my heart, can consolidate its way toward a more prosperous, just and fraternal society.”