But her anxiety was quickly eased as she was “embraced” by a people who were “gracious” and “very warm.” By the end of the trip, she had even decided that she wants to come back with her husband, who is American, and her 15-year-old son.
As Buda got to know the people of Cuba, she found that “their spirit is incredible.”
“They’re very proud of who they are,” she said.
Growing up in a Cuban family in the U.S., Buda can relate to that spirit. She explained that her parents had always told her, “Don’t forget your heritage. Always be proud that you’re Cuban.”
During her days in Havana, she saw that same spirit that she remembers from the stories that her family used to tell.
“They stayed with me, and now I understand,” she said. “Their spirit keeps them alive.”
At the heart of this spirit, she explained, is a “passion for music and religion.” She described Cubans as “very faithful individuals.”
“Their faith is so important to them,” she said, explaining that it keeps their spirit “intact” in difficult times.
Buda said that she saw how the Cuban “spirit comes alive” throughout her trip. She said that she talked to numerous individuals who are “seeking some sort of transformation.”
She also noted that the Pope’s comments on change during a March 28 Mass in Havana drew hushed applause from the crowd.
Buda had seen the Pope at a public Mass in Rome two years ago. However, she said, this was different. She described the experience of seeing the Pope being welcomed in her homeland as “incredible.”
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“It can’t get any better than that,” she said, adding that it was also amazing to be able to receive the Eucharist at the Papal Mass.
One of the most touching moments for Buda came at the end of the Mass, as someone in the crowd yelled out to the Pope, asking him not to leave, but to stay with the Cuban people and bring change.
As the individual was quickly hushed, Buda said that she started crying, deeply aware that her native land is in “desperate need of change.”
During his visit, Pope Benedict emphasized the need for spiritual renewal in order to bring about peaceful change in society.
Asked if she believes that the pontiff’s visit will inspire a transformation in the country, Buda responded, “Absolutely,” adding that she had met numerous people who asked her for prayers.
“They want change, and they want it badly,” she said. “It’s time.”
Michelle La Rosa is deputy editor-in-chief of Catholic News Agency. She has worked for CNA since 2011. She studied political philosophy and journalism at the University of Dallas.