Headlines
Pope Francis meets Cuban President Raul Castro at Vatican
Vatican City, May 10
Cuban President Raul
Castro met Pope Francis on Sunday at the Vatican, where he thanked the
pontiff for his mediation in the process of normalising relations with
the US and discussed the Pope's planned visit to the island in
September.
Castro said after the 55-minute meeting, one of the
longest the Pope has held with any head of state or government, that he
felt "moved".
The 83-year-old Cuban leader, who later met
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, told reporters that he left the
papal audience feeling "moved by the wisdom, the modesty and all of the
virtues" of the Argentine-born pontiff.
"I read all of the
pope's speeches and if the pope keeps talking like this, I'll go back
to praying and will return to the church, and I'm not joking," Castro
said.
The Cuban leader said he planned to attend "all of the
Masses" that the pope will celebrate during his visit to Cuba, adding
that he was educated by the Jesuits, the same order that the pontiff
belongs to.
Castro described his private audience with the Pope as "cordial" and "warm".
The audience was like "preparation for the visit to Cuba" by the Pope, Castro said.
The
details of the Pope's visit to the island have not been finalised,
with Vatican officials not yet confirming whether the pontiff will spend
one or two days in Cuba.
Pope Francis plans to make a stopover on the island on his way to the US, where he is expected to arrive on Sep 22.
Castro's
meeting with the Pope was described as "strictly private", but the
same protocols in place for visits by leaders were followed, with the
delegations being introduced and gifts exchanged.
Castro gave the
pope a painting by Cuban artist Alexis Leyva Machado showing a large
cross with several boats and a child praying, as well as one of the 25
medallions marking the bicentennial of the Havana Cathedral.
Pope
Francis gave Castro a medal of St. Martin of Tours, the patron saint
of Buenos Aires, and a copy of his Apostolic Exhortation, "Evangelii
Gaudium" (The Joy of the Gospel).
"Here you'll find one of those declarations you like so much," the Pope joked with Castro.
About
10 people, including Cuban Council of Ministers Vice President Ricardo
Cabrisas Ruiz, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez and Cuban Ambassador
to the Holy See Rodney Lopez, attended the audience.
Castro introduced his youngest son, Alejandro, and one of his grandchildren to the pontiff.