(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received the President of Cuba, Raul Castro, on Sunday morning in private audience at the Vatican. A note from the Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, explains that Castro arrived at 9:30 AM, and stayed a little over an hour, during the course of which the Pope and the President spent considerable time in conversation in the Holy Father’s study inside the Paul VI Hall.
The meeting between the Pope and the President lasted over 50 minutes, and was very friendly. The President told reporters before leaving the Vatican that he had thanked the Holy Father for the active role he played in favor of improving relations between Cuba and the United States of America, and also presented to the Pope the sentiments of the Cuban people – sentiments of expectation and preparation for the Holy Father’s visit the island in September.
The note also reports a significant exchange of gifts: the President of Cuba gave the Pope a precious commemorative medal of the Cathedral of Havana, and a framed work of contemporary art, which depicts a large Ccross composed of the relics of wrecked barges, before which is present a migrant in prayer. The Cuban artist Kcho, who was present, told the Pope that he was inspired by Francis’ great commitment to bringing the plight of migrants and refugees to the attention of the wider world, especially through the Pope’s visit to the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa. The Pope 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. The Pope noted that he was particularly happy to give this last gift, as it recalls not only the duty to help and protect the poor, but also actively to promote dignity.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received the President of Cuba, Raul Castro, on Sunday morning in private audience at the Vatican. A note from the Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, explains that Castro arrived at 9:30 AM, and stayed a little over an hour, during the course of…
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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received the President of Cuba, Raul Castro, on Sunday morning in private audience at the Vatican. A note from the Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, explains that Castro arrived at 9:30 AM, and stayed a little over an hour, during the course of…
Read more
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received the President of Cuba, Raul Castro, on Sunday morning in private audience at the Vatican. A note from the Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, explains that Castro arrived at 9:30 AM, and stayed a little over an hour, during the course of…
Read more
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received the bishops of Mozambique on Saturday in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican. The bishops are in Rome for their ad limina visits. The role of the bishop as pastor – the shepherd appointed by Christ to care for Christ’s flock, and so to serve Christ by serving and building up His people – was the central focus of the Holy Father’s remarks, which were prepared in Portuguese and delivered in written form on Saturday morning. “Jesus is the supreme Pastor of the Church,” writes Pope Francis, “it is in His name and by His mandate that we are to take care to keep his flock, fully ready to give everything, even our lives,” in that service. The Holy Father also encouraged the bishops to form and maintain strong relationships with their priests, caring for their spiritual and material needs. He had special praise for the role the Church plays in the larger society of Mozambique, especially in the fields of education and health care. Care for – and defense of – the family was another major focal point of Pope Francis’ remarks, in which he told the bishops to spare no effort in supporting the family and the defense of life from conception to natural death. “The family,” writes Pope Francis, “is always to be defended as a prime source of fraternity and of respect for others, as well as a primary way of peace.” Finally, Pope Francis recalled the missionary vocation of all the baptized, and the bishops’ peculiar role as guardians and nurturers of the missionary spirit. “When we go out to take the Gospel with true apostolic spirit, He walks with us,” writes Pope Francis. “He precedes us, and for us this is fundamental: God always goes before us.” (from Vatican Radio)…