Top Story – Pope Francis delivered mass in Cuba on Sunday, as part of a visit that has highlighted the complex relationship between Catholicism and the island nation’s politics.
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Yelenis Teruel Salas lights a candle inside the San Isidoro…
Pope Francis has celebrated mass in front of thousands of people in the eastern Cuban city of Holguin.
The conversation was described as “very relaxed, fraternal and friendly”, and they discussed religion and world affairs in the presence of Castro’s children and grandchildren.
Pope Francis spends his third day Monday in Cuba, where he’s bringing his message to the people and the country’s longtime leader.
“Today we had the privilege and the joy to attend Pope Francis’ Mass in Havana in the Plaza de la Revolución under the picture of his fellow Argentine Che Guevara”.
According to the head of the opposition group Ladies in White, 22 out of 24 members of the group were not able to attend Sunday’s mass in Havana’s main plaza due to Cuban security agents denying them access to the area.
On Tuesday, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass at the shrine of El Cobre, before heading off to the United States.
“He invites us slowly to overcome our preconceptions and our reluctance to think that others, much less ourselves, can change”, Francis said.
The holy father also met with Fidel’s brother, President Raul Castro, and other Cuban leaders.
The pope was welcomed at the airport by Holguin’s Bishop Emilio Aranguren and the Cuban government’s number two official, Miguel Diaz-Canel, reports the Associated Press, as a large crowd shouted, “Francis our friend, the people are with you!” Mr Castro, 76, gave the pope a dedicated copy of Brazilian priest Frei Betto’s book of interviews with him, Fidel and Religion, which he signed “With admiration and respect from the Cuban people”. The talks climaxed with last year’s announcements by Raul Castro and U.S. President Barack Obama to reestablish diplomatic ties for the first time in 53 years.
Cuba already has received three popes, Pope John Paul visited in 1998 and Pope Benedict in 2012, but the Church nevertheless faces numerous struggles in Cuba.
In just a few days Pope Francis will be making his first formal visit to the United States and Valley Catholics say they are already feeling the excitement.
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After his arrival on Saturday, he hailed improving ties between the two countries as “an example of reconciliation for the whole world”.
