A picture of Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro is placed on the shelves of a state rationing store or “bodega,” ahead of his upcoming 90th birthday in Havana, Cuba. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan)

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Cuba’s former leader Fidel Castro will celebrate his 90th birthday on Saturday. The revolutionary icon, who became a major player on the world stage during the Cold War, retired 10 years ago due to ill health.

CCTV America’s Michael Voss reports from Havana.

Cubans celebrate Fidel Castro\'s 90th birthday Cuba’s former leader Fidel Castro will celebrate his 90th birthday on Saturday. The revolutionary icon, who became a major player on the world stage during the Cold War, retired 10 years ago due to ill health. CCTV America’s Michael Voss reports from Havana.

As Cubans flock to the annual summer arts and crafts fair in Havana, they first pass through an entrance hall lined with photographs of former leader Fidel Castro, one of many tributes to mark his 90th birthday.

Some stop to pose for pictures beside portraits of the man who ruled this island for almost half a century. His official title today is “historic leader of the revolution.”

“He’s like my grandfather, everyone loves him,” said one young girl. “He is important in this country and the in whole world.”

Castro may rarely seen in public, but politically he is still aware of the world around him and, when he doesn’t approve of something, he says so.

It was the historic visit of U.S. President Barack Obama that prompted Fidel’s most recent intervention, writing that it was enough to give Cubans a heart attack on hearing what he called Obama’s sugar-coated words.

Castro then made a rare appearance at the Communist Party Congress in April, speaking of his mortality but confident that his politics would outlive him.

“Everyone’s turn must come but the ideas of the Cuban communists will remain,” he said.

Some now suggest that in old age Fidel Castro has become a rallying point for those who want to maintain communist orthodoxy and limit the pace of change.

“Cuba must be careful. We welcome the reestablishment of relations, but we have to tread cautiously,” said 72-year old Miriam Olivera, a Fidel supporter. “They have always tried to use ideology against us. I’d prefer they didn’t come to open businesses here.”

In his speech to Congress, Cuban President Raul Castro, Fidel’s brother, said half-jokingly there are two political parties in Cuba: those who follow Fidel Castro and those who support himself.

PHOTOS: Fidel Castro at 90

Castro and Che Guevara Photo taken on January 01, 1960 shows then Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro (R) during a meeting in Havana next to Argentine guerrilla leader Ernesto Che Guevara.(AFP PHOTO / CUBA's COUNCIL OF STATE ARCHIVE) Fidel Castro and Camilo Cienfuegos A photo taken on January 8, 1959 shows Cuban rebel leaders Fidel Castro (R) and Camilo Cienfuegos(L) entering Havana after the victory over the forces of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. (AFP PHOTO / PRENSA LATINA ) Castro and Khrushchev (FILES) This file photo taken on may 1963 shows Cuban First Secretary of the Cuban Communist party and President of the State Council Fidel Castro(L) and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev during a four-week official visit to Moscow.(AFP PHOTO) Castro in 1957 A photo taken on April 1975 in Havana shows Cuban Prime Secretary of the Cuban Communist party and President of the State Council Fidel Castro, wearing glasses while he addresses crowd. (AFP PHOTO / PRENSA LATINA) Castro and Che Guevara A photo taken on December 31, 1962 shows Argentine-born legendary revolutionary figure Ernesto "Che" Guevara (L) with Cuban leader Fidel Castro (R) in Havana's famous "1830" restaurant four years after he and Fidel Castro led the revolution that toppled Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. (AFP PHOTO / Consejo de Estado) Castro visits Vietnam A photo taken on September 1973 shows Cuban First Secretary of the Cuban Communist party and President of the State Council Fidel Castro (C) holding a flag during his visit in South Vietnam during the Vietnam war.(AFP PHOTO / AVI ) Castro and the Pope A photo taken on January 20, 1998 shows Cuban President Fidel Castro(R) looking at his watch as he and Pope John Paul II(L) walk on the tarmac of the Jose Marti international airport in Havana 21 January moments after the Pope arrived for a five-day four-city tour of the island-nation. (AFP PHOTO / MICHEL GANGNE) Castro and Mandela Cuban president Fidel Castro(R) expressing his joy in meeting former South African president Nelson Mandela at Mandela's office in Johannesburg 02 September 2001. ( AFP PHOTO / YOAV LEMMER) Raul and Fidel Photo taken on December 01, 2001 shows Cuban President Fidel Castro (L) watched by his brother, Minister of the the Revolutionary Armed Forces, Raul Castro. (AFP PHOTO / ADALBERTO ROQUE) Castro and Chavez A photo taken on August 20, 2005 shows Cuban President Fidel Castro and his Venezuelan colleague Hugo Chavez at the Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina, in Havana.(AFP PHOTO / POOL / ENRIQUE DE LA OSA) Castro tattoo Cuban cigar maker Yoan Avila, 28, showing his newly done tattoo depicting President Fidel Castro 30 January, 2007 in Havana. (AFP PHOTO / ADALBERTO ROQUE) Revolution 50th anniversary Cuban citizens cheering as they attend 02 December, 2006 at Revolution Square in Havana a military parade celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the creation of the Cuban Revolutionary Army and the 80th birthday of President Fidel Castro.(AFP PHOTO / RODRIGO ARANGUA)

Lecturer Arturo Lopez-Levy on impact of Fidel Castro in Cuba

For more about the pulse of Cuba’s politics, CCTV America’s Asieh Namdar interviewed Arturo Lopez-Levy, a lecturer of Cuban Studies at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs. He’s also the co-author of “Raul Castro and the New Cuba: A Close Up View of Change.”