Pope’s Hat Blows Away As He Arrives In Cuba

“They also spoke about the upcoming visit by His Holiness Pope Francis to Cuba and the United States, acknowledging his contribution to the start of a new stage in relations between the two countries”, the ministry said.

In this May 10, 2015 file photo, Pope Francis meets Cuban President Raul Castro, left, during a private audience at the Vatican.

But they also say Francis will find himself among a people still experiencing deep suffering from decades of worldwide and internal conflict, and that the pontiff may not be able to live up to expectations placed on him since his role in the thawing of relations of Cuba with the United States.

Pope Francis, leader of the Catholic Church, sets to address members of the United States Congress in a joint session on Thursday, September 24, when he is expected speak of the environment and the importance of tackling issues of climate change. United States federal government workers have been encouraged to work from home if possible during the pope’s visit to Washington. Francis could call on the Cuban government to return seized Jesuit universities and schools, Pumar said.

While Francis appears to be hugely popular with US Catholics, the scandal over the American Church hierarchy’s role in covering up widespread sexual abuse of children by priests is still fresh in many memories, inside and outside of the Church.

“In a world where being Catholic often has a negative connotation, Pope Francis has made it a point to reach out to those who have historically felt marginalized or ostracized”, Corrine Murphy, Assumption ’17, said.

As well as Havana, he is due to visit Holguin and Santiago, birthplace of Castro’s revolution, following in the footsteps of his immediate predecessors Benedict XVI and John Paul II, who visited in 2012 and 1998 respectively.

The Vatican said ahead of the visit they hoped Francis’s trip to would help bring an end to a 53-year-old US embargo and lead to more freedom and human rights on the communist island.

He plans to make clear that Hispanics in the United States are the bedrock of the American church. On Friday, the United States eased rules for USA citizens wishing to travel to Cuba and simplified procedures for telephone and Internet investments and money transfers to Cuba.

Large crowds are expected for each of the pope’s events and anticipation in Havana on Friday was high.

The pope, speaking in Spanish, thanked his hosts and asked Castro to “convey my sentiments of particular respect and consideration to your brother, Fidel”.

In a reflection of his star quality, Francis will be personally met on his arrival at the Andrews US Airforce Base outside Washington by President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle. On Wednesday, he meets with the president in the White House, greets the public in a motorcade around the Ellipse and celebrates a Mass canonizing Junipero Serra, an 18th century missionary. The US also has concerns about Cuba’s human rights record and detainment of political prisoners.

Assumption and Holy Cross students will attend the World Meeting of Families Papal Mass which occurs on the last day of Pope Francis’ six-day visit.