Raúl Castro in Havana in 2008.Pool Interagences / Getty Unity and continuity. These are the main themes underpinning the 8th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) due to begin on Friday in Havana. The gathering comes at a key moment: the island nation is grappling with one of the worst crises in its entire history even as the revolutionâs historic leaders, starting with Raúl Castro, are on their way out. Raúl Castro is 89 years old. Ramón Machado Ventura, currently the second secretary of the PCC, will turn 91 in October. The veteran commanders Ramiro Valdés and Gu...