Fidel, Atheist with the Faith of a Clergy, affirms Belgian Priest

Quito – At a slow pace and with a profound and clear look, Francois Houtart reviewed the images of Fidel Castro exhibited today at the embassy of Havana in Quito, where homage is rendered to the recently deceased Cuban leader.

‘To define the figure of Fidel is difficult, because his figure is so diverse, rich. It is that of an intellectual and man of action at the same time, he is a visionary that has always had new ideas’, affirmed the Belgian priest and sociologist, after signing the book of condolences provided at the diplomatic see to render tribute to the revolutionary.

Visibly moved, he told Prensa Latina that ‘the passing of the Commander in Chief is something one could expect, but at the same time he did not expect it was a happening we were going to live’.

For me it is a blow, a crash, because personally I have known Cuba since 1953 and known its situation before the Revolution and after, he says with his sight lost in the horizon.

Houtart sustained meetings with Fidel in Havana several times and from those meetings and his experiences, the clergy could measure the social, political, economic and cultural transformation of the archipelago, by the hand of their leader.

‘That impressed me very much’, he assured and added that despite all the difficulties lived by that nation in different stages of its history, what is most impressive is the sowing of values and the way of living of its people.

‘Those deeply rooted ideas are the work of Fidel and his physical disappearance or the new problems to come, are not going to erase them from history, because they are social values, very different from those implanted by capitalism and market economy’, he said.

At moments, it would seem as if Houtart were lost in time, and he explains, that come to his mind memories so clear in history. Then he says: ‘I hope that the lesson that Cuba and Fidel gave the world with that revolution and that people that weeps for him today, keeps alive in the future’.

‘Cuba is a small island inside an ocean and will face difficulties, but it also has hope, it has what its leader sowed and new generations with principles which will allow to continue the effort of Fidel and many others, that were fundamental’.

The sociologist remembers the Fidel that defended the Earth, the ecology, who he considers the first to attempt make the world aware of the importance to protect the environment, to guarantee survival of the human race.

The priest, on his part, thinks in the Fidel that despite not practicing any religion, defended the precepts of any follower of God, do good to fellow men, give welfare to many, and solidarity with all.

And this is what is most important in the Cuban leader, which transcended the borders of his country, he assures, the kindness, humbleness, give away what one has, share with those who lack, take the light to dark zones.

Houtart also has anecdotes that link him to Fidel Castro, as an International Conference on Terrorism in Havana, in which he casually met with the leader very early, at one of the conference halls of the Convention Center.

‘At that moment Fidel told me that terrorism is unacceptable, wherever it may come from and that made me happy, because I had that same stand’.

‘Fidel always had a very, very strong ethical attitude’, he emphasized.

This man of serene but firm conversation, insists that Fidel is a man with faith in humanity ‘He didn’t believe in God, but had a depth of thought and faith in a project which may be compared to the religious faith’.

‘His atheism is not only materialism, it is a faith in a complete human project and always in a future with hope, that is similar to a process of religious faith’, he asserted.

I had to come and sign the book and pray for him, his family and the Cuban people, he affirmed.