Pope's Message of Change in Cuba

Floor Speech

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Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, in 1987, I was grateful to be present in Columbia, South Carolina, when Pope John Paul II, as the Polish-born Pope, promoted liberation from communism in Europe. Yesterday, I was grateful to be present with Pope Francis.

Prior to arriving in the United States, the Pope visited Cuba. An Associated Press article, as reprinted in The Post and Courier this week, said Pope Francis gave a message that Cubans should ``overcome ideological preconceptions and be willing to change.''

In the communist totalitarian dictatorship of Cuba, only the communist ideology is allowed to be changed. Hopefully, change will lead to freedom, as proven by Pope John Paul II.

Change must come to the economy which was stolen from its owners and is now held by the Cuban military, which controls over 70 percent of all businesses. This corrupt regime impoverishing its citizens has been propped up by the Soviet Union and then Chavez of Venezuela. Both have now failed, as Russians and Venezuelans see the failure of Big Government.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and may the President by his actions never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism, and God bless a liberated Cuba.

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