Cuba's Roman Catholic cardinal urged his nation's government to heed Pope John Paul II's call and ``open to the world,'' but also criticized the U.S. embargo of the communist island.

Cardinal Jaime Ortega's comments, his most extensive yet on the politics of the pope's visit in March, appeared in the Cuban church's Palabra Nueva magazine.

Ortega praised President Clinton's decision to allow more direct aid for Cuba, which took effect Wednesday.

The cardinal's criticism of the communist government was guarded, consistent with the church's cautious policy surrounding the papal trip.