Preparations for Visit of Pope Francis to Cuba Begin

HAVANA, Cuba, May 11 (acn) The first working meeting between representatives of the Holy See, the Catholic Church in Cuba and the authorities of the island was held on Monday afternoon at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as part of preparations for the pastoral visit of Pope Francis to Cuba in September, the Cubaminrex Web site reported.

The cordial meeting was headed, for Cuba, by the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marcelino Medina, and also composed of Caridad Diego, head of the Office, among other officials. Heading the delegation of the Holy See was Dr. Alberto Gasbarri, Head of the Organization of Papal Trips; and it was made up by, among others, Dr. Paolo Corvini, of the Protocol Office of the Vatican Secretariat of State, and Monsignor Većeslav Tumir, Charge d'Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Havana.
Cardinal Jaime Ortega, Archbishop of Havana, and Monsignor Dionisio Garcia, Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba and President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops, among other Cuban bishops, represented the Catholic Church in Cuba.
The complete willingness of the Cuban State and government to provide all necessary support for the success of the apostolic visit of the Supreme Pontiff to Cuba was expressed at the meeting.