Castro Impressed by Pope, Said He Might Return to Catholic Faith Cuban President Raul Castro said he was so impressed with Pope Francis hemight return to the Catholic Church, The Associated Press reported at a meeting Sunday, May 10, of the two leaders. Pope Francis had a role in helping normalize relations between Cuba and the United States, a fact Castro said he appreciated. The pope plans to visit Cuba on his way to America in September. After leaving the Vatican, Castro, the brother of Fidel, the revolutionary leader who brought the Communists to power in Cuba, praised the pope At a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Castro said he came out of the meeting with the pope really impressed by his wisdom and his modesty, Reuters reported. When the pope comes to Cuba in September, I promise to go to all his masses and I will be happy to do so, he said, adding that he reads all of the speeches of Latin Americas first pope, who has made defense of the poor a major plank of his papacy. I told the prime minister if the pope continues to talk as he does, sooner or later I will start praying again and return to the Catholic Church, and I am not kidding, he said. Both of the Castro brothers were baptized as Catholics. The pontiff is a Jesuit, and I, in some way, am too, AP reported Castro saying. I always studied at Jesuit schools. Castro is the leader of a Communist country that has cracked downon dissidents in the past,drawing criticism fromthe Vatican. I am from the Cuban Communist Party, that doesnt allow [religious] believers, but now we are allowing it, its an important step, Castro said. Atheism is atraditionalplank of communism, which drew its inspiration and philosophy from Karl Marx, who called religion the opium of the people. The normalization of relationsbetween Cuba and the U.S. has been a controversial move by the Barack Obama administration, with some lawmakers wondering what America will gain from the move. Others say a thaw in political and economic relations between the two nations is long overdue because the longstanding hostility between the nations hasnt forced any changes in Cuban repression of dissidents. And itremains to be seen if Castro will make good on his promise to allow religious freedom. If religious liberty is permitted, can other natural rights to life, liberty and property be far behind? 