Has Castro Become a Christian?

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George Conger reports stories in the Italian press that Fidel Castro, the communist dictator of Cuba, may have “rediscovered Jesus” and will be reconciled with the church from which he was excommunicated:
Fidel Castro will be received back into the communion of the Roman Catholic Church during Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the island in March, the Italian press is reporting. If true, this is a remarkable story — and one that has yet to catch the attention of editors this side of the Atlantic.
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On 1 Feb 2012, La Republicca — [Italy’s second largest circulation daily newspaper, La Republicca follows a center-left political line and is strongly anti-clerical; not anti-Catholic per se but a critic of the institutional church] — reported that as death approaches, the octogenarian communist has turned to God for solace.
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ABC’s Global Note news blog is the only U.S. general interest publication I have found that has reported this story. It referenced the La Republicca story and said that Castro’s daughter Alina is quoted as saying “During this last period, Fidel has come closer to religion: he has rediscovered Jesus at the end of his life. It doesn’t surprise me because dad was raised by Jesuits.” The article quotes an unidentified high prelate in the Vatican who is working on the Pope’s Cuba trip: “Fidel is at the end of his strength. Nearly at the end of his life. His exhortations in the party paper Granma, are increasingly less frequent. We know that in this last period he has come closer to religion and God.”
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getreligion.org/2012/02/last-temptation-of-castro/

If this turns out to be true, it would be arguably a greater miracle than the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union: the collapse of communism in the heart of one of its most bloodthirsty adherents. It would also be one of the most dramatic conversions of an atheist in recent memory. The man put untold numbers of Christians in front of firing squads. How amazing is a grace that would accept him, forgive him, and accept him as one of those Christians as he faced his own death.
 
IggyAntiochus said:
George Conger reports stories in the Italian press that Fidel Castro, the communist dictator of Cuba, may have “rediscovered Jesus” and will be reconciled with the church from which he was excommunicated:

getreligion.org/2012/02/last-temptation-of-castro/

If this turns out to be true, it would be arguably a greater miracle than the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union: the collapse of communism in the heart of one of its most bloodthirsty adherents. It would also be one of the most dramatic conversions of an atheist in recent memory. The man put untold numbers of Christians in front of firing squads. How amazing is a grace that would accept him, forgive him, and accept him as one of those Christians as he faced his own death.
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Hmmm… I remember my old pastor saying that he thought Fidel Castro might become Christian, and the pastor died himself in 1992. He was very accurate with his predictions / prophecies. I’ve mentioned this prediction before on this site, and I think I even wrote to Castro once some time ago (probably on behalf of Amnesty International at the time), and said I thought he’d become Christian in the letter. He probably laughed pretty loudly at the time, but it will be interesting to see what he actually does.

If so, Mr. Castro has left it pretty late in the day, but better late than never. A positive result would mean my old pastor was right once again. From what I can remember, he’s had a 100% track record so far, although I’m still waiting for a few things to happen. Not all good news either.
 
Castro is probably trying to hedge his bets. If he indeed returns to the Church, he better confess his sins to get ready to face God.
 
hn160 said:
Castro is probably trying to hedge his bets. If he indeed returns to the Church, he better confess his sins to get ready to face God.
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Granted, but there are two sides to the story. These figures came from a link on “worst genocides of the 20th century”.

Sukarno (Communists 1965-66) 500,000

Suharto (Aceh, East Timor, New Guinea, 1975-98) 200,000

Ho Chi Min (Vietnam, 1953-56) 200,000

Richard Nixon (Vietnam, 1969-1974) 70,000 (Vietnamese and Cambodian civilians)

Papa Doc Duvalier (Haiti, 1957-71) 60,000

Rafael Trujillo (Dominican Republic, 1930-61) 50,000

Chiang Kai-shek (Taiwan, 1947) 30,000 (popular uprising)

Francisco Franco (Spain) 30,000 (dissidents executed after the civil war)

Fidel Castro (Cuba, 1959-1999) 30,000

Lyndon Johnson (Vietnam, 1963-1968) 30,000

Guy Mollet (France, 1956-1957) 10,000 (war in Algeria)

Harold McMillans (Britain, 1952-56, Kenya’s Mau-Mau rebellion) 10,000
 
Let us pray for Mr. Castro’s protection from an unprepared death. :highprayer:
 
Bob_Crowley said:
Granted, but there are two sides to the story. These figures came from a link on “worst genocides of the 20th century”.

Sukarno (Communists 1965-66) 500,000

Suharto (Aceh, East Timor, New Guinea, 1975-98) 200,000

Ho Chi Min (Vietnam, 1953-56) 200,000

Richard Nixon (Vietnam, 1969-1974) 70,000 (Vietnamese and Cambodian civilians)

Papa Doc Duvalier (Haiti, 1957-71) 60,000

Rafael Trujillo (Dominican Republic, 1930-61) 50,000

Chiang Kai-shek (Taiwan, 1947) 30,000 (popular uprising)

Francisco Franco (Spain) 30,000 (dissidents executed after the civil war)

Fidel Castro (Cuba, 1959-1999) 30,000

Lyndon Johnson (Vietnam, 1963-1968) 30,000

Guy Mollet (France, 1956-1957) 10,000 (war in Algeria)

Harold McMillans (Britain, 1952-56, Kenya’s Mau-Mau rebellion) 10,000
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Do you have the link? I just casually noticed a few missing names: Hitler, Mao, Stalin, Lenin, Breshnev, Pol Pot, Gorbachev, just to name a few.

Jon
 
Here is how that is worded on CARM 🤷

Rome Reclaiming COMMIE CASTRO? The “Beast” to Embrace ANOTHER Murdering Thug?
 
don’t you have to first become human in order to be Catholic?
 
JonNC said:
Do you have the link? I just casually noticed a few missing names: Hitler, Mao, Stalin, Lenin, Breshnev, Pol Pot, Gorbachev, just to name a few.

Jon
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scaruffi.com/politics/dictat.html

I deliberately left a few out for obvious reasons, but the West can’t hold it’s head up as a model of faultless behaviour.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Iraq_War

This is the legacy of a war supposedly fought over Weapons of Mass Destruction which Saddam Hussein didn’t have. As far as I’m concerned Bush Jnr. et al told the intelligence agencies that they wanted “evidence” to invade Iraq to get rid of Saddam Hussein. I hold no brief for Saddam Hussein, but as CS Lewis put it, “the greatest sins are performed by men who sit in offices with clean hands.”

Castro is not the only one facing judgement for mass executions, whether done deliberately or as “collateral damage”.
 
He wasn’t in good health, what 2010 when the Obama comments were released, what after his 20-30 years of silence?

Then I heard the Patriach of Russia was visiting, and of course Pope Benedict is visiting in the near future.

About time they let those people go free though? 120 miles from the US Coast and we’re over in the middle east freeing muslims from Dictators. First their crying, “The World Forgot Us” next their burning American flags and killing Christians insisting the US is next:rolleyes: All clapping when the Russian diplomate arrived, and then the killing resumed. Guess that meant Russia wanted the Dictatorship in place. 🤷

Bought to you live via satellite nightly. All this over “OIL”. You don’t have to worry about the kids watching Sponge Bob, you have to worry about them watching the News. Only joking (about Sponge Bob)…👍

However I don’t think its new for someone to find God on the death bed. Probly a daily occurance at every hosptal worldwide. Vanity of Vanities said the preacher. 😉

Peace(always)
 
It is not for any of us to say what the disposition of another person’s soul is. We pray for our enemies as well as our friends knowing by faith that there is no sin so heinous that it cannot be forgiven by our gracious Lord if a person truly repents of that sin.
I did find it interesting that when Pope John Paul II visited Cuba, Castro wore a suit rather than his customary uniform Could the conversion process have already begun then?
 
Such an occurrence would be amazing.

I will remember Castro in my prayers, even if only in intent given the amount of things and people to pray for.

May the will of God be done.
 
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