Pope Francis in Cuba: We renew cooperation and friendship

Pope Francis began his apostolic visit to Cuba, and in Havana he was welcomed by Cuban President Raul Castro, other officials and Cuban bishops, reports the Bosnian news agency Patria.

Thanking for the welcome and greetings, the Pope in his speech noted that his visit to Cuba coincides with the eightieth anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Cuba and the Holy See.

- Today we renew the ties of cooperation and friendship, so that the Church can continue to support and encourage the Cuban people in their hopes and anxieties, in freedom and with the means and space needed to proclaim the Kingdom of God to the peripheries of society - said the Pope.

He also recalled that this year the country also celebrates one hundred years since Pope Benedict XV proclaimed Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre as the patroness of Cuba, and mentioned the visits of Pope John Paul II in 1998 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.

Emphasizing that Cuba has a natural role to be a place of friendly encounter for different peoples, Pope Francis recalled the event that "fills with hope" - the process of normalizing relations between the two nations after years of estrangement.

This is a sign of the victory of the culture of encounter and dialogue, said the Pope, and encouraged politicians to persist on this path for the good and peace of their peoples, of both Americas, and as an example of reconciliation for the whole world.

The Pope's visit to Latin and North America will last 10 days.