I’ll come back to Catholic Church – President Castro
Cuban President Raul Castro says he might come back to the Catholic Church “if the Pope keeps going the way he is going”.
He said this at a Press Conference after a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Zenit News reported. Speaking on the Pontiff’s upcoming September visit to Cuba prior to his Apostolic Visit to the United States, the Cuban president said he would be present at all the Masses Pope Francis would celebrate in his island nation.
A Vatican Communique released by Holy See Press Office Director, Fr. Federico Lombardi, stated that the meeting lasted more than 50 minutes and was very friendly.Before leaving the Vatican, President Castro told journalists that he thanked the Holy Father for the active role he had played to improve relations between Cuba and the United States.
He said he conveyed to the Pope the sentiments of the Cuban people in respect of his forthcoming visit to the island in September this year. The President of Cuba gave the Pope a precious commemorative medal of the Cathedral of Havana, and a framed work of contemporary art.
Pope Francis also gave the President a copy of his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium and a large medallion which represents St. Martin in the act of covering the poor with his cloak, noting that it recalls not only the duty to help and protect the poor, but also to actively promote dignity.
He said this at a Press Conference after a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Zenit News reported. Speaking on the Pontiff’s upcoming September visit to Cuba prior to his Apostolic Visit to the United States, the Cuban president said he would be present at all the Masses Pope Francis would celebrate in his island nation.
A Vatican Communique released by Holy See Press Office Director, Fr. Federico Lombardi, stated that the meeting lasted more than 50 minutes and was very friendly.Before leaving the Vatican, President Castro told journalists that he thanked the Holy Father for the active role he had played to improve relations between Cuba and the United States.
He said he conveyed to the Pope the sentiments of the Cuban people in respect of his forthcoming visit to the island in September this year. The President of Cuba gave the Pope a precious commemorative medal of the Cathedral of Havana, and a framed work of contemporary art.
Pope Francis also gave the President a copy of his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium and a large medallion which represents St. Martin in the act of covering the poor with his cloak, noting that it recalls not only the duty to help and protect the poor, but also to actively promote dignity.