Pope, Castro discuss world's problems

HAVANA -- Pope Benedict XVI sat down Wednesday with Fidel Castro and his wife, Dalia, for a 30-minute talk at the end of his three-day trip to Cuba.

A Vatican spokesman described the meeting between Benedict and the father of Cuba's communist revolution as "animated" and "colloquial." They spoke about the world's problems, the environment, and cultural and religious difficulties.

Castro asked the pope why the Mass had changed since he was a child and what specifically a pope does. The pope talked about the challenges of religion being marginalized in society.

Castro brought up their similar ages. He is 85, the pope 84.

Earlier, Benedict celebrated Mass before about 3,000 Cuban faithful in Havana, where he said clearly that "Cuba and the world need change." -- MCT