In a communiqué, former ANAIC Chairman Sergio Marinoni noted that Fidel “was not only capable of personally facing the most adverse situations, but also knew how to instill morale and optimism in those around him.”

“Fidel Castro has showed that peculiarity in all his years leading the Revolution, transmitting to his people the strength to overcome all kinds of difficulties,” added the press release, which reflects the feelings of the Italians who support Cuba.

Despite the United States illegal and criminal economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, military attacks such as that of Bay of Pigs, biological warfare, terrorist actions, campaigns of hatred and subversion, Fidel Castro had been “like a captain directing a vessel amid the most furious storm,” it adds.

He steered the ship of the Revolution “to calmer waters, without backing down an iota on the most sacred principles, such as Cuba’s independence and its self-determination.”

To this end, “he was greatly inspired by another giant of Cuban history, Jose Marti,” since both had “an extraordinary human sensitivity, the great capacity to know how to interpret their historic time and be capable of projecting their vision of the future.”

Marti used to say “being cult is the only way to be free” and “Fidel, after the success of the Revolution changed Cuba in a magnificent free school to all levels,” and “he always bet on culture and education, even in the hardest times known as special period in the 90s.”

Fidel followed Marti’s precept “Homeland is humankind;” therefore, he taught Cubans what international solidarity with the poorest people truly meant, and nowadays, “dozens of thousands of Cubans are working as physicians, instructors, technicians of various specialties in plenty of developing countries.”

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