Cuba visits the Vatican

This morning, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience, the President of the Republic of Cuba, Mister Raúl Castro Ruz.  The meeting took place in the Pope Study near the Paul VI Hall.

Upon his arrival near the Mushroom, at the rear entrance to the Paul VI Hall, at 9:30am, the President was welcomed by the Prefect of the Papal Household, His Excellency, Georg Gaenswein, and greeted by the Substitute, His Excellency, Giovanni Angelo Becciu, as well as by the Secretary for Relations with States, His Excellency, Paul Gallagher.  A personal meeting with the Pope then took place in the Study.  The meeting, which lasted for 50 minutes, was very cordial.  The President - as he himself explained to journalists before leaving the Vatican - wished to thank the Holy Father for the active role he played in improving the relations between Cuba and the United States of America; moreover, he presented to the Pope the sentiments of the Cuban people in anticipation of and in preparation for His Holiness' upcoming visit to the island nation during the month of September.

The Holy Father and the President then moved closer to the Hall for the presentation of the delegation that had accompanied the President, composed of ten persons including the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Cuban Ambassador to the Holy See.

The exchange of gifts which followed was significant.  The President offered the Pope a precious commemorative medal from the Cathedral in Havana and a piece of contemporary art representing a large cross composed of wreckages of boats, in front of which is a migrant in prayer.  The Cuban artist Kcho, who was also present, explained to the Pope that he was inspired by his great commitment to focusing the world's attention on the problems of migrants and refugees, beginning with his now famous trip to Lampedusa.  The Pope presented the President with a copy of his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium and a large medallion representing Saint Martin in the act of covering the poor with his mantle.  The Pope explicitly noted that this is a gift that he offers with particular significance because it commemorates not only our commitment to help and protect the poor but also to actively work for the promotion of their dignity.

President Castro and his delegation left the Vatican shortly before 10:30am.