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Miami exiles soften on pope's Cuba visit

March 21, 2012

Reuters, Chicago Tribune

MIAMI, March 21 (Reuters) - In 1998, Cuban American businessman Carlos Saladrigas was so opposed to Pope John Paul II's historic visit to Cuba that he organized a coalition of Miami civic leaders against it.

More than 10,000 people, including Miami's most prominent Cuban American politicians, held a protest rally in the city's Little Havana district, forcing the Church to cancel its plan to send a cruise ship to Cuba carrying pilgrims from Miami.

Now, 14 years later, Saladrigas says he was mistaken. As Pope Benedict prepares to visit Cuba next week, Saladrigas not only supports this papal mission; he plans to be there himself, accompanied by his wife and hundreds of other Cuban exiles....
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