Video: Pope Benedict criticizes Castro?s regime

In an unusual homily, the pontiff called for free thought, and more freedom for the Catholic Church in Cuba. NBC?s Andrea Mitchell reports.

>>> in cuba today, on the final day of the pope's visit, an historic mass. andrea mitchell is there and has our report.

>> in an unusual homily with a sharp political edge in a square thatsome b somymbolizes cuba revolution, with raul castro front and center, the pawnf called for freedom. he preached cuba and the world need change, but this will occur only if each one is in the position to seek the truth. and he called for free thoughts, respect for human dignity , and more freedom for the church, including the right to religious school . after asking raul castro to make good friday a national holiday . although hundreds of thousands attended, the pope did not meet with dissidents. disappointing human rights groups who fear that prominent activists known as the ladies in white, last seen in church on sunday, may have been detained. their home and cell phones went dead last night, but he met with a notally frail fidel castro . the vatican said the two men joked about their age. the 84-year-old pontiff telling castro, who is 85, i'm old, but i still know how to do my job. castro told the pope he had watched the mass on television and was struck by how the liturgy has changed. before leaving, the pope criticized the 50 year u.s. economic embargo for imposing what he called an unfair burden on the people of cuba .

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/46886138/

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