Cuba: Pope Francis meets Fidel Castro after Havana mass
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-34307121
Pope Francis has met Cuba's former President, Fidel Castro, after celebrating mass in front of tens of thousands of people in Havana.
The two men discussed world affairs and religion, in what the Vatican called an "informal and friendly" encounter.
Before the meeting, Pope Francis gave a homily in which he urged Cubans to serve each other rather than ideology.
It is the first visit by the Pope to the Communist-ruled island, on a trip that will later take him to the US.
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi described the meeting between Pope Francis and Fidel Castro, which took place at the former Cuban leader's home, as low-key.
They exchanged books: Pope Francis gave Mr Castro three titles, including a book of sermons by Mr Castro's former teacher, while in return the Pope received Fidel and Religion, a collection of interviews with a Brazilian priest.
Pope Francis urged Cubans gathered in Revolution Square to "care for one another"
Earlier in the day, thousands streamed into Havana's Revolution Square to hear the Pope.
Security services were seen arresting at least three people who were shouting and attempting to distribute flyers at the edge of the square as the Mass got under way.
During his homily the Pope spoke of how "Christians are constantly called to set aside their own wishes and desires, their pursuit of power, and to look instead to those who are most vulnerable".
He also warned against ideology, saying: "Service is never ideological, for we do not serve ideas, we serve people".
From my vantage point, it was hard to gauge exactly how many people filled the enormous Revolution Square in Havana, but their enthusiasm was clear to everyone watching.
The Pope was greeted by thousands in good voice and high spirits, despite the suffocating Caribbean heat.
It was a rare sight - the iconography of revolution such as the huge cast-iron Che Guevara mural juxtaposed against the images of religion, including a vast huge picture of Jesus Christ. Or Raul Castro embracing Pope Francis.
Once again, it felt like evidence that times are changing on the communist island.
In terms of his homily, the Pope discussed ideas of brotherhood and unity but the more overt political message was aimed not at Cuba, but Colombia.
He urged the Colombian government and the left-wing Farc rebel group to persevere with the talks being held in Havana, saying they could not allow "another failure on the path of peace and reconciliation".
Grey line
Cuba's President Raul Castro, who is not a practising Catholic, attended, as did Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, president of the Pope's native Argentina.
The Pope praised improved co-operation between the Cuban government and the Church on Saturday, but called for the Church in Cuba to have "the freedom and the means" to pursue its mission.
Both his predecessors, Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, visited the island during their papacy.
Pope Francis is due to fly to Washington on Tuesday. He has been credited with helping the recent thaw in diplomatic ties between Cuba and the US.
After his arrival on Saturday, he hailed improving ties between the two countries as "an example of reconciliation for the whole world".
But he also urged both Cuba and the US to "persevere on the path" of detente.
Pope Francis Sits Down with Raúl Castro in Havana
http://time.com/4041802/pope-francis-us-visit-cuba-raul-castro/
Amid the celebrations and public speeches, the meeting Sunday between Pope Francis and Cuban President Raúl Castro seemed staid by comparison.
The two leaders met at the Palace of the Revolution, the seat of government in Havana, shortly after 4 p.m., each flanked by deputies and other dignitaries.
Standing in front of a dramatic stained glass portrait of the sun—the same backdrop used during Pope Benedict’s 2012 visit—Francis called forth the members of his delegation, which included Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino of Havana and former Cuban papal nuncio Giovanni Angelo Becciu.
Castro then introduced his smaller delegation, which included Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who is widely expected to replace him in 2018, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, who worked on the recent reconciliation with the United States, and Esteban Lazo, president of the Cuban parliament.
After the introductions, the pope and the president left for a one-on-one meeting, while the members of the delegation went into a nearby hall for a separate discussion.
The Latest: Pope Francis retires to residence of Papal Ambassador in Havana
http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2015/09/20/the-latest-pope-francis-meeting-with-raul-castro-in-havana
Pope Francis greets a child on a wheelchair during a meeting with a group of Cuban youth in Havana, Cuba, Sunday Sept. 20, 2015. Pope Francis met with Fidel Castro on Sunday before finishing the day with a vespers service in Havana's cathedral, and then meeting with the youths. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
The Latest: Pope Francis retires to residence of Papal Ambassador in Havana
The Associated Press
Pope Francis greets a child on a wheelchair during a meeting with a group of Cuban youth in Havana, Cuba, Sunday Sept. 20, 2015. Pope Francis met with Fidel Castro on Sunday before finishing the day with a vespers service in Havana's cathedral, and then meeting with the youths. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Associated Press Sept. 20, 2015 | 9:34 p.m. EDT + More
HAVANA (AP) — The latest developments in Pope Francis' visit to Cuba and the United States. All times local:
9:30 p.m.
Pope Francis has retired to the residence of the papal ambassador after a busy day in Havana.
He is due to fly to the eastern city of Holguin at 8 a.m. Monday to begin the second leg of his visit in Cuba.
8:30p.m.
The Vatican spokesman has confirmed that some dissidents were called and invited to events where they would receive a greeting from Pope Francis.
Monsignor Federico Lombardi says no formal meeting was planned. Lombardi says the dissidents never showed up but he cannot confirm that it was because they were arrested.
Earlier, two well-known dissidents said that Cuban security officers detained them and told them that they couldn't go to a papal event.
8:10 p.m.
Two well-known Cuban dissidents say the Vatican invited them to attend the pope's vespers service at the Cathedral of Havana but Cuban security agents detained them and temporarily held them so they could not go.
Marta Beatriz Roque and Miriam Leiva, both longtime dissidents, say they received invitations from the office of the papal ambassador in Havana to attend the service but were arrested as they tried to travel to the cathedral.
Roque says she was also invited by the Vatican to meet Pope Francis at the ambassador's residence shortly after the pontiff's arrival Saturday, but she was also detained at that time then released before being held again Sunday afternoon.
Leiva and Roque say security agents explicitly told them they couldn't go to the pope's services in Cuba.
Roque says: "They told me that I didn't have a credential and that I couldn't go to the pope's event that was taking place there in the Plaza of the Cathedral."
6:30 p.m.
Pope Francis has spoken off-the-cuff at length for the first time during his trip to Cuba, breaking from prepared remarks to deliver a sermon that focuses extensively on the importance of poverty to the Roman Catholic Church.
He also warns of the dangers of falling prey to the temptations of wealth.
In Francis's word: "Our dear mother church is poor. God wants it poor, as he wanted our Holy Mother Mary to be poor."
5:45 p.m.
Pope Francis is presiding over a vespers service in Havana's 18th century Immaculate Conception and San Cristobal cathedral.
Bells rang out and a few hundred excited and sweaty priests and sisters clapped and shouted "Francisco!" as the pope arrived. An organ broke into a celebratory hymn.
The cathedral was first started by priests of Francis' Jesuit order and the facade was designed by the Italian architect Borromini. It boasts a large bronze statue of St. John Paul II, who became the first pope to visit Cuba in 1998, as well as a replica of the Virgin of Charity of Cobre, Cuba's patron saint.
5:35 p.m.
Pope Francis has thanked Raul Castro for his welcome at Havana's airport on Saturday and for the Cuban president's pardons for 3,522 prisoners convicted of relatively minor crimes.
In a partially audible Associated Press recording of their exchange before a private meeting, Francis is heard saying: "In the first place I want to thank you for the warmth of the reception, the fact that in your speech you've cited things that really send a signal of (inaudible) and warmth. I also want to thank you for the pardons."
5:20 p.m.
Cuban President Raul Castro is showing Pope Francis what appear to be official gifts for the pontiff on display inside the Palace of the Revolution: a huge crucifix made of oars, which is being presented by the Cuban artist known as Kcho, and a painting of the Virgin of Charity of Cobre, Cuba's patron saint.
4:45 p.m.
Pope Francis' gifts for Fidel Castro are raising some eyebrows.