Papal visit: A Cuban viewpoint

How do Cubans , including those living in exile in the U.S., view this visit by Pope Benedict to their homeland? And what are they expecting it to achieve? To find out more, Susy Hodges spoke to Father Ernesto Travieso, a Cuban Jesuit priest based in Miami.

Recalling the relaxing of restrictions on the Church after Pope John Paul's historic visit to Cuba in 1998, Father Travieso says he hopes "that some changes will happen ... for the good of all Cuban people" as a result of this papal visit. He recalls that when he went to Cuba a few years after Pope John Paul 's visit to the island he found that the faithful were energised by the impact of that trip: "the people were full of energy ... and very strong after that visit." In the same way, Father Travieso hopes that "people will be encouraged to believe" as a result of this visit by Pope Benedict to Cuba.

Listen to the interview by Susy Hodges with Cuban-born priest Father Ernesto Travieso: