MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Che's daughter refuses to attend Pope Francis mass at Revolution Square

“I did not go to the mass because it would be hypocritical of me. What was I to do standing there for hours? No, no” said Aleida Guevara

The Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara’s daughter, Aleida Guevara refused to go to a mass Pope Francis conducted on Sunday during his historic Cuban trip, saying it would be “hypocritical” of her to be present.

 The mass which took place in Revolution Square in Havana is adorned with a huge mural of the iconic guerilla leader, Ernesto “Che” Guevara.

”The CPC (Communist Party of Cuba) asked us militants to go to mass, to go to meet the Pope. That is as a task from the party with which I don’t entirely agree“, said Aleida Guevara who is a pediatrician was quoted by AFP.

”I did not go to the mass because it would be hypocritical of me. What was I to do standing there for hours? No, no,“ she added, also saying, ”My dad is there [Che Guevara’s grave is in Revolution Square, in Havana] because it is a symbol of this country.”

Pope Francis arrived in the Cuban capital on Saturday, and was warmly welcomed by President Raul Castro. The party and the Catholic Church invited everybody to join the historic mass on Sunday, the first of the three to be conducted by the pontiff in Cuba.

This is the first leg of the Pope’s 10-day trip to Cuba and the US.

Pope Francis, 78, has been acting as a mediator between Washington and Havana, and has been a guarantor of negotiations. His Holiness said the diplomatic breakthrough between the US and Cuba should become an example to the whole world.

“It is a sign of victory of the culture of encounter and dialogue, ‘the system of universal growth’ over ‘the forever dead system of groups and dynasties,’” he said.

“I urge political leaders to persevere on this path and to develop all its potentialities as a proof of the high service they are called to carry out on behalf of peace and the well-being of their peoples, of all America, and as an example of reconciliation for the entire world,” Francis added.

The historic thawing in US-Cuba relations occurred last December. The embargo remains, but on Friday, using his executive authority to circumvent Congress, Obama issued new regulations allowing US citizens to travel to Cuba. The move also offers more freedom for telephone, internet investment and money transfers to Cuba.