Pope continues visit in southern Cuba
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis Monday continued his visit to Cuba, by celebrating Mass in Holguìn’s Revolution Square which was attended by some 150,000 people, before continuing on to Santiago.
Listen to Ann Schneible’s report:
After celebrating Mass, and taking a break for lunch, the Pope paid a visit to the Loma de la Cruz, or the Hill of the Cross, which overlooks the city.
There has been a Cross at the site since the late 17 hundreds, and it has become a place of pilgrimage for the Cuban people .
At the hill, the Holy Father was serenaded by a children’s choir. He then prayed at the Cross, before bestowing his blessing on the city of Holguin.
Pope Francis then took a flight to the southern city of Santiago, Cuba’s second largest city. Shortly after arriving, he paid a visit to the country’s bishops at the Saint Basil major seminary.
Pope Francis concluded the day with a visit to the National Shrine of the Our Lady of Charity in the village of El Cobre. The shrine is home to a 17th century statue believed to have been brought over from Spain.
This year marks the centenary since Benedict the 15th declared Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre as patroness of Cuba.
On Tuesday, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass at the shrine of El Cobre, before heading off to the United States.