Former Cuban president Raul Castro has stepped down as First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, the most powerful position in the country. The brother of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro assumed the title in 2011.

Born in 1931, Castro stood by his brother as they successfully overthrew the government of dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959. He served as Fidel's right hand man for decades, including as defense minister during the CIA-led Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961.

In 2008, Raul was chosen by Cuba's National Assembly to replace Fidel as president after his brother resigned from the position. In 2018, he stepped down as president and called for limiting presidential terms to two five-year terms.

On April 16, in remarks that were transmitted on Cuban state TV, Castro said that he had faith in a new generation of officials, who gave him a standing ovation.

Pounding a lectern, Castro said he would continue "fighting" to defend the Cuban Revolution and that "nothing forced" him to retire as leader of the party. Castro's replacement is expected to be picked during the four-day Congress.

Castro, center, poses for a photo with his brothers Fidel, left, and Ramon, right, in Santiago de Cuba around 1940.
Castro, center, poses for a photo with his brothers Fidel, left, and Ramon, right, in Santiago de Cuba around 1940.
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Castro speaks in 1959.
Castro speaks in 1959.
AP
Castro poses for a photo with his wife Vilma at their wedding in 1959.
Castro poses for a photo with his wife Vilma at their wedding in 1959.
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Castro speaks to a crowd in Havana on July 26, 1959, at an event marking the anniversary of the 1953 attack on the Moncada barracks. Castro's brother Fidel led the attempted coup against Fulgencio Batista's government. Both brothers were sentenced to 15 years in prison but were released less than two years later as part of an amnesty for political prisoners. The attack on the military barracks is viewed as the beginning of the Cuban Revolution.
Castro speaks to a crowd in Havana on July 26, 1959, at an event marking the anniversary of the 1953 attack on the Moncada barracks. Castro's brother Fidel led the attempted coup against Fulgencio Batista's government. Both brothers were sentenced to 15 years in prison but were released less than two years later as part of an amnesty for political prisoners. The attack on the military barracks is viewed as the beginning of the Cuban Revolution.
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Castro sits next to Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara during a 1964 celebration of the July 26th revolution.
Castro sits next to Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara during a 1964 celebration of the July 26th revolution.
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Castro speaks at a rally in November 1983 honoring soldiers killed during the US invasion of Grenada.
Castro speaks at a rally in November 1983 honoring soldiers killed during the US invasion of Grenada.
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Raul and Fidel Castro stand alongside Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev as he prepares to leave Cuba after an official visit in 1989.
Raul and Fidel Castro stand alongside Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev as he prepares to leave Cuba after an official visit in 1989.
Vladimir Rodionov/Sputnik/AP
Castro stands next to his brother as they attend the funeral of Cuban politician Carlos Rafael Rodríguez in 1997.
Castro stands next to his brother as they attend the funeral of Cuban politician Carlos Rafael Rodríguez in 1997.
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Castro speaks to members of the press during a rally in July 2000 in Manzanillo, Cuba.
Castro speaks to members of the press during a rally in July 2000 in Manzanillo, Cuba.
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Fidel and Raul Castro confer during a session of the National Assembly in 2001 in Havana.
Fidel and Raul Castro confer during a session of the National Assembly in 2001 in Havana.
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Cuban Army officers watch a message from Castro as he gives the order to begin military exercises conducted by hundreds of thousands of Cuban troops and civilians in Cuba in 2004.
Cuban Army officers watch a message from Castro as he gives the order to begin military exercises conducted by hundreds of thousands of Cuban troops and civilians in Cuba in 2004.
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Castro takes part in a march against terrorism in front of the United States Interests Section in Havana in May 2005.
Castro takes part in a march against terrorism in front of the United States Interests Section in Havana in May 2005.
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A man in Miami reads the Miami Herald's Spanish-language edition, El Nuevo Herald, with news of Fidel Castro handing over power to Raul Castro in 2006. Castro was undergoing intestinal surgery and provisionally handed over power to his brother.
A man in Miami reads the Miami Herald's Spanish-language edition, El Nuevo Herald, with news of Fidel Castro handing over power to Raul Castro in 2006. Castro was undergoing intestinal surgery and provisionally handed over power to his brother.
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Castro gives a speech after being elected by the Cuban National Assembly to succeed his brother Fidel in February 2008.
Castro gives a speech after being elected by the Cuban National Assembly to succeed his brother Fidel in February 2008.
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Castro and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter wave as Carter departs from Havana in 2011. Carter, who traveled with his wife Rosalynn, met with Raul and Fidel Castro as well as with US contractor Alan Gross, who was imprisoned in Cuba at the time. Carter had visited Cuba previously in 2002.
Castro and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter wave as Carter departs from Havana in 2011. Carter, who traveled with his wife Rosalynn, met with Raul and Fidel Castro as well as with US contractor Alan Gross, who was imprisoned in Cuba at the time. Carter had visited Cuba previously in 2002.
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Fidel Castro raises his brother's hand as they sing the International Socialist Anthem during the 6th Communist Party Congress in Havana in 2011.
Fidel Castro raises his brother's hand as they sing the International Socialist Anthem during the 6th Communist Party Congress in Havana in 2011.
Javier Galeano/AP
Castro arrives for a parliamentary meeting in Havana in 2011. Castro updated the Parliament on the country's economic status as well as potential new laws.
Castro arrives for a parliamentary meeting in Havana in 2011. Castro updated the Parliament on the country's economic status as well as potential new laws.
Ismael Francisco/Prensa Latina/AP
Pope Benedict XVI and Castro wave to the media after a meeting in Havana in 2012.
Pope Benedict XVI and Castro wave to the media after a meeting in Havana in 2012.
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Castro arrives for the official group photo of leaders attending the 2014 China and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Summit in Brasilia, Brazil.
Castro arrives for the official group photo of leaders attending the 2014 China and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Summit in Brasilia, Brazil.
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Castro attends the May Day parade at Revolution Square in Havana in 2014.
Castro attends the May Day parade at Revolution Square in Havana in 2014.
Liu Bin/Xinhua/eyevine/Redux
Pope Francis speaks with Castro during his farewell ceremony in Santiago de Cuba in 2015. The pair had met earlier in the year in Italy, where Castro thanked the Pope for facilitating talks between Cuba and the United States.
Pope Francis speaks with Castro during his farewell ceremony in Santiago de Cuba in 2015. The pair had met earlier in the year in Italy, where Castro thanked the Pope for facilitating talks between Cuba and the United States.
Ismael Francisco/Cubadebate/AP
Castro addresses the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly in 2015.
Castro addresses the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly in 2015.
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Castro lifts US President Barack Obama's arm after delivering speeches at the Palacio de la Revolución in Havana in 2016. The salute came at the end of a contentious press conference in which members of the press peppered Castro with questions about human rights abuses in the country. Obama was the first sitting US President to visit Cuba since Calvin Coolidge's visit in 1928.
Castro lifts US President Barack Obama's arm after delivering speeches at the Palacio de la Revolución in Havana in 2016. The salute came at the end of a contentious press conference in which members of the press peppered Castro with questions about human rights abuses in the country. Obama was the first sitting US President to visit Cuba since Calvin Coolidge's visit in 1928.
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Raul Castro listens as his brother Fidel speaks during the seventh Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba in 2016.
Raul Castro listens as his brother Fidel speaks during the seventh Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba in 2016.
Ismael Francisco/CUBADEBATE/Xinhua/eyevine/Redux
Castro talks with First Vice President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel while watching a May Day parade in Revolution Square in Havana in 2016.
Castro talks with First Vice President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel while watching a May Day parade in Revolution Square in Havana in 2016.
Liu Bin/Xinhua/eyevine/Redux
Castro places the urn of his brother Fidel into his tomb at the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery in Santiago de Cuba in 2016.
Castro places the urn of his brother Fidel into his tomb at the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery in Santiago de Cuba in 2016.
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Castro looks at the honor guard before granting Ecuador's President Rafael Correa with the José Martí Order in Havana in 2017.
Castro looks at the honor guard before granting Ecuador's President Rafael Correa with the José Martí Order in Havana in 2017.
Ramon Espinosa/AP
Castro raises his arms in celebration after Miguel Díaz-Canel was elected as the island nation's new president at the National Assembly in Havana in 2018. Castro passed Cuba's presidency to Díaz-Canel, putting the island's government in the hands of someone outside the Castro family for the first time in nearly six decades.
Castro raises his arms in celebration after Miguel Díaz-Canel was elected as the island nation's new president at the National Assembly in Havana in 2018. Castro passed Cuba's presidency to Díaz-Canel, putting the island's government in the hands of someone outside the Castro family for the first time in nearly six decades.
Adalberto Roque/Pool/AP
Castro gives a speech in 2019 during the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution at the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery in Santiago de Cuba.
Castro gives a speech in 2019 during the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution at the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery in Santiago de Cuba.
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Castro attends the opening session of the 8th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba in Havana on April 16, 2021.
Castro attends the opening session of the 8th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba in Havana on April 16, 2021.
Ariel Ley Royero/ACN/AP