This practice has resulted in unnaturally high numbers of Cuban political prisoners suffering serious diseases such as cancer. I do not believe things will change significantly after the Pope's visit. There is a complete lack of faith in the system almost everywhere in Cuba. The thought that Castro will prevail is not an ideal, but a nightmare. The fact that Castro has indeed prevailed for almost forty years only reinforces the belief that he will survive everything and anything.
Nothing is more paralyzing than the lack of hope.
Every totalitarian regime bases its power on the belief that any attempt to promote change is futile and will only result in the destruction of the dissenter. A totalitarian regime does not expect the love or the enthusiastic support of all the people, so they seek submission, conformity, and apathy. While some people believe the government when it says the U.S. embargo is the culprit of every problem in Cuba, many others can see through the government's lies. Some people hate the U.S. as the arch-enemy of the Cuban nation. In any event, the embargo IS NOT the reason for people's reluctance to oppose the regime.