By Anita Snow,  Associated Press

HAVANA, Cuba — The little boy and girl in white robes led their catechism classmates in a Christmas procession — a common sight in much of Latin America except this communist state, which has only recently begun to tolerate religious displays.

The traditional "posada" was enacted Sunday by Roman Catholic students who paraded through their neighborhood, singing Christmas songs and re-enacting the search for an inn where the Virgin Mary could give birth.

The unusual Christmas demonstration drew neighbors to their balconies and front porches to watch the students walk by. Some said it was one of the only "posadas" they'd seen this decade.

The "posada" and other rare religious manifestations of Christmas now appearing in Havana are the result of increasingly warming relations between the government and Holy See — a process that's gaining steam as Pope John Paul II's Jan. 21-25 visit approaches.

However, this "posada" had a distinctive Cuban twist, reflecting continuing concerns about Cuba's struggling economy.

"Do you have any money?" one child dressed in robes asked the classmate playing the role of Joseph, Mary's husband.

"We don't have any fula," responded Joseph, using the Cuban slang term for U.S. dollars. "We only have national currency. The situation is very bad."

Turned away, the young Joseph and Mary had to travel blocks through the Santo Suarez neighborhood of large, crumbling homes before someone finally let them in.

The event, along with Christmas trees and ornaments in many homes, are clear signs of the first government-sanctioned Christmas holiday in decades.

As preparation for the pope's visit, Cardinal Jaime Ortega has called on Catholics to prepare for a very "special" Christmas — one that includes the Christ Child.

Catholic parishes throughout Havana are planning Christmas Eve masses that will feature the placing of the Baby Jesus in front of the churches.

"This sanctuary will be standing-room only," predicted Pilar Marrero Hernandez, 37, who has belonged to Santo Suarez's Medalla Milagrosa parish.

"We are recovering our traditions," said Marrero, whose daughter participated in the "posada."

"I am very happy that our president has made Christmas a national holiday this year," said fellow parishioner Adolfo Suarez, 34, who wore a wooden cross and a silver Virgin Mary medal.

President Fidel Castro on Dec. 13 announced this he would grant several church requests for next month's papal visit, including the declaration of Dec. 25 this year as an official holiday.

In another extraordinary sign of warming church-state relations, the Cuban Communist Party newspaper Granma on Saturday published a front page Christmas message from the pope to the Cuban people. The message was also read on government radio.

Saying he hopes his message will reach "those who have the grave responsibility of directing the nation's destiny," the pontiff called Christmas "part of the religious and cultural patrimony of Cuba."

In one section of his message, the pope made it clear he hopes his visit will have a long-lasting effect on Cuba.

"I hope that after my visit, the Church ... can continue having, more and more, the liberty necessary to carry out its mission and adequate space to continue serving the Cuban people," John Paul wrote.

Relations have gradually warmed in recent years, especially since the government declared itself secular rather than atheist in 1992 and the Communist Party dropped a ban on religious believers in 1991.

© 1997Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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