Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas's family meets with Pope Francisco

"We talked to His Holiness of the need for free and pluralistic elections in Cuba. The Pope recognized the right of Cubans to decide." - Rosa María Payá Acevedo, May 14, 2014 over twitter
 

Payá family met in private audience with Pope Francisco on May 14

His Holiness Pope Francisco received the Payá family in a private audience at his residence, Santa Marta reported the Christian Liberation Movement in a press release. The meeting with the Holy Father took place on the morning of May 14, 2014 between 9:22 and 9:45. Ofelia Acevedo, Oswaldo J. Payá, Rosa Maria Payá y Reinaldo Payá participated in the gathering. The topics discussed with the Holy Father were the deaths of Oswaldo Payá and Harold Cepero; government repression especially against members of the democratic opposition; the Cuban reality and the proposed plebiscite; and the situation of the Church in Cuba.

In their official statement on the encounter the Christian Liberation Movement and Payá family expressed how "deeply grateful to the Holy Father and the Holy See grace granted and understanding found." PanAm Post published an article on the encounter and below is an excerpt:

"Speaking exclusively to PanAm Post, Rosa María Payá said the pope was aware of the poverty and the deterioration of human rights on the island. 'He is looking at what is happening in Cuba and the region with concern and solidarity, and from the perspective of a pastor who is a pastor for everyone. At the same time, he cares about freedom and democracy in our country, said Payá’s daughter."

 Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas wrote in a 2005 letter to Pope Benedict XVI: "I have received information ... on the danger of being jailed or killed."

Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas meets Pope John Paul II in 2002