Retired Cuban Archbishop Pedro Meurice dies at 79

(July 23, 2011) Pedro Meurice, retired Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, had the courage to criticize the Castro government during the papal Mass at Santiago during the visit of Pope John Paul to Cuba in 1998. While admiring him we pray for the repose of his soul, for this Archbishop died at a Miami hospital on Thursday. He was 79. Meurice was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Santiago in June 1955 and became a bishop there in 1967. Three years later, he became archbishop of the southeastern Cuban city. When in 1998, Pope John Paul was celebrating Mass, in the course of his address to the Pontiff, in the presence of Fidel Castro, himself, Meurice was not shy about criticizing the Castro government, asserting that too many Cubans ``have confused patriotism with a party.'' Meurice retired in February 2007.A funeral Mass will be held at St. Michael the Archangel Church Miami on. Monday. Burial will be in Cuba, though arrangements haven't been finalized.