But now the memory of that papal visit seems to have been forgotten as Cuba's communist regime has launched a renewed crackdown on the Christian faith with reports of churches destroyed, pastors imprisoned, religious leaders' personal property seized and Christians violently stopped from worshipping.
In its latest report, the Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) says the Cuban regime has launched a major crackdown against churches and has seized and demolished at least 1,400 church buildings. The regime is justifying its action by claiming that the churches are unregistered, and therefore, illegal.
The report cites more than 1,000 cases of religious freedom violations, including the "destruction of church property, arbitrary detention and other forms of harassment, in particular seizure of religious leaders' personal belongings."
More than 1,000 churches were officially confiscated between January and July of this year, with 100 of those churches threatened with demolition, according to CBN News.
