Pope Benedict to visit Cuba

Virgin of Caridad del Cobre

Pope Benedict XVI is planning to visit Cuba in spring 2012, a senior Church official said yesterday. Monsignor Jose Felix Perez, executive secretary of the Cuban Bishops Conference told a press conference that the exact date had not been settled yet.

He said: "the visit will give strength and vigour to the faith in Cuba. The visit should be one of peace and reconciliation."

After the revolution in Cuba in 1959, religious practice and the celebration of Christmas and Easter was discouraged. Catholic schools were closed in 1962 and people with religious belief were barred from joining the Communist party.

Relations between the Church and government improved after the end of the Cold War. Cuba removed references to atheism from the constitution in the 1990s and believers of all faiths are now allowed to join the party.

When Pope John Paul II visited in 1998, Fidel Castro welcomed him personally at the airport. The pontiff celebrated a Mass at a packed Revolution Square, calling for "Cuba to open to the world, and the world to open to Cuba."

Since then, Church leaders helped to negotiate the release of political prisoners in 2009 and 2010.

Mgr Perez said Pope Benedict will make a pilgrimage in honour of the Virgin of Caridad del Cobre, the patron of Cuba. A relic of the Virgin has making its way around the island this year.

A Mass has been offered at the Sanctuary every morning since 1927. Among the offering left under the statue is Ernest Hemingway's Nobel Prize gold medal.

Later in 2012, Vatican officials said Pope Benedict is also considering a visit to Mexico.