With a message of love, Cuba bids farewell to Pope Francis after living intense and beautiful days by the Pilgrim of Mercy, who arrived in the archipelago last September 19.
With a message of love, Cuba bids farewell to Pope Francis after living intense and beautiful days by the Pilgrim of Mercy, who arrived in the archipelago last September 19.
The blessing to the city of Santiago de Cuba from the atrium of the Cathedral marked the end of his apostolic trip to his already repetitive message: "Pray for me."
In this eastern city, the Pope enjoyed the hospitality and humbleness of the people and called for caring for the family as the true tomorrow´s schools, as real centers of humanity.
The Head of the Vatican State visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity of Cobre, to open the Marian Jubilee Year, on the occasion of the centenary this year of Pope Benedict XV proclaimed Our Lady as Patroness of Cuba, at the request of Mambi Army fighters and the Cuban people.
Monsignor Dionisio Garcia Ibañez, Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, thanked His Holiness for coming to eastern Cuba as a pilgrim and presiding over the Mass and praying before the image of Our Lady of Charity in its Basilica National Shrine.
With great vitality Pope Francis has been active in Cuba like the Mass at the Jose Marti Square in the Cuban capital, that held in the city of Holguin and the third in Santiago, and other touching moments like the encounter with the young at Felix Varela Cultural Center.
Pope Francis has been very pleased with the welcome and the expression of affection that so far have been shown by the Cubans, said Father Federico Lombardi, spokesman for the Holy See.
It was seen during the whole visit, in which believers and nonbelievers welcomed with such an expression of hospitality, affection and admiration.
Translation: Ilia Charon