MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Castro describes Pope as “unforgettable friend”

Fidel Castro visited Vatican legation in Havana Monday to sign the book of condolences for the death of Pope John Paul II, whom the Cuban leader described as an “unforgettable friend”.

The Cuban president happened to arrive at the Nuncio's official residence at the same time as his brother Raul, who is the country's Defence Minister and Fidel's designated heir. For security reasons, the Castro brothers rarely appear together.

Cuba's septuagenarian leader wrote a long message in the condolence book recalling John Paul II criticism of Washington's decades-long economic embargo against the Havana regime during the first-ever papal visit to the island in 1998.

"Rest in peace, indefatigable battler for friendship among peoples, enemy of war and friend of the poor" wrote Fidel Castro, who like brother Raul, discarded his customary olive-green military garb in favour of a black suit for the visit to the Vatican legation.

"You visited us in difficult times and you perceived the nobility, the spirit of solidarity and the moral courage of the people who received you with special respect and affection because they appreciated the goodwill and love toward human beings that impelled your long pilgrimage on the earth.

"You said before returning to Rome that the restrictive economic measures imposed from outside the country were unjust and ethically unacceptable; this earned you the eternal gratitude and affection of all Cubans, and today we render you your well-deserved triumph; we grieve your loss, unforgettable friend, and we fervently hope your example endures", concluded Fidel Castro.

Besides the Castro brothers and most of the government and Communist Party top officials, hundreds of ordinary Cubans queued to sign the condolence book in downtown Havana.

The Cuban regime declared three days mourning, with the Cuban flag at half mast and Fidel Castro is expected in the Vatican next Friday for the burial ceremony of Pope John Paul II

President Castro also attendance at a Mass in the Pontiff's honor ? a rare sighting of the Cuban leader inside a church ? filled the front pages of the island's state-run newspapers Tuesday.