Pope has tough fight against Santeria in Cuba

(CBS News) SANTIAGO, Cuba - Pope Benedict XVI flew to Cuba Monday, only the second visit by a pope.

He got a warm welcome from President Raul Castro, who said he favors complete religious freedom. But the pope faces a big challenge in rejuvenating the Catholic Church in Cuba.

CBS News correspondent Byron Pitts reports that people came from across the island for the pope's evening service, with many arriving before sunrise. But the curious may well out-number the devout.

In hardscrabble Santiago, as in much of Cuba, making ends meet takes priority over mass. Catholic churches are often all but empty. While most Cubans say they're Catholic, far less than 10 percent are practicing.

Santeria is the faith of choice for many. It is a Caribbean blend of West African pagan traditions and Catholicism, born out of slavery. It is celebrated with everything from Latin songs that mirror American Gospel to animal sacrifices.

While Catholics have priests, followers of Santeria have holy men called "Spiritists."

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Juan Gomez is a holy man, machete in hand. His sister Elena Gomez is a Pentecostal Christian.

He wears an outfit similar to "what a black salve wore when he fled the mountains and became holy man. Red is for life. Black is for death. White is for peace. And the machete is to defend yourself."

Elena Gomez said she converted to Christianity after a serious illness. Christ, she said, answered her prayers.

"I used to visit Santeria priest," she said. "But in time I found it was not what I needed. Christ saved me."

The Gomez siblings say they respect each other's faiths.

"I will take care of her just as she would take care of me," Juan Gomez said.

One friend of the Gomez siblings, Roxanna Caballero, is Catholic, but also worships the spirits of Santeria. She says she would not be too concerned if the pope demanded Catholics stop using Spiritists.

"I have my own beliefs," Roxanna said. "My own way of thinking about things and nobody can take that away from me"

She seemed to speak for many Cubans we met when she said: "I live by three things: I am Cuban! I am a woman! I am a believer!"

[CubanaParaSiempre]

Excuse me but santeria isn't dark or evil or even related to the devil. Yes like any form of witchcraft it can be used for good or bad but that depends on the person not the religion it is used for helping people because there is nothing in Cuba to help people. Furthermore you shouldn't be so close minded about it, if you don't like it fine but posting rude things with no background information is immature. Cubans shouldn't have to change there religion just because the pope wants the catholic church to rise there since its falling here.

[Bemkapeace]

So, why wasn't a Catholic interviewed? Not to blow the exaggerated myth of the reporter?

[UForgotPoland]

Santeria is a good Sublime song.

[Micmart3000]

Damn I miss that group. Religion on the other hand I can do without.
RIP Bradley Nowell

[Nes286]

Santeria is practiced in the Dark.... Everyday I see dead chickens in plastic bags at intersections, at the foot of a palm tree. It is a backward religion practiced by extremely disturbed individuals that believe in the occult and spells. How completly irresponsible are the practioners of this horrible witchcraft to leave dead chickens where little children see and are haunted by it. I recently was at a stop sign and there was a pot with two dead chickens covered by flies a rotting mess. How can that be considered a religion? There is death worshiping and spells tto change other people's minds or to protect from criminal activity. To all that practice only Jesus can heal you not a dead chicken..... Find God cause you are all very far from what is good....please save the thousand dollars you spend to become a santo and buy a one way ticket to africa and practice that sh"t there.

[John782011]

So the canabalistic rite of the eating the body and drinking the blood is not dark? At least in Protastant denominations, they do not proport transubstantiation, or the actual becomiong huiman flesh and blood and asking you to eat it. I do eat chicken, I don't eat human flesh.

[CubanaParaSiempre]

Okay Really? It Is both good and bad it depends on the person not the religion. Also chickens really your kids see dead chickens every time you cook one. So shut up and learn about the religion before you go posting something so closed minded and completely inaccurate. For instance, In santeria you can not control the mind of others its this thing called free will. Nothing of what you said is right I've been studying this for 15 almost 16 years. Oh and by the way I go to church, pray, and believe in Jesus; He's one of our Saints.

-A Girl that practices santeria

[netjunkie1]

I think the Catholic Church in a decline like the depression.
They don't deserve the credit they claim to be representative of God.
They don't have exclusivity to God.
Indeed the Vatican has behaved brutally throughout history.
Furthermore, as a nation, the Vatican, own lots of property in America, all without paying taxes.
TAX them.
It is just another of the false religions of the world that has had power and abused it.