The crowd appeared to include a mix of young and old, black and white, men and women, and faithful Catholics side by side with revolutionaries who were told by Castro last week to attend the papal events as a sign of respect for the visitor. Some clearly were bewildered by the pope's words and uncertain about how to react. A majority of couples in Cuba today are not married and merely live together. If I don't, I'll change,' '' said the Rev. Manuel Jimenez, parish priest at the Sacred Heart Church in Havana's Lawton district. About 23 percent of all official marriages in 1995 ended in divorce.
Promiscuity is common, especially among young people, who have few diversions.
In 1990, only 34 percent of all babies were born to married women. The day began on a tender note for the pontiff, who, apparently suffering from jet lag, got up earlier than expected and surprised a children's chorus that was to sing a wake-up serenade outside the Vatican ambassador's residence in Havana. John Paul came out fully dressed and kissed and blessed the children. They were so touched by his bearing and kindness that many started to cry, said one nun who has been helping with logistics at the papal nuncio's residence. Security for the papal events continued to be low key, with large numbers of plainclothes security agents deployed discreetly in the Santa Clara crowd.