Pope announces plans to visit Mexico and Cuba before Easter

(Dec. 14, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday confirmed plans to visit Mexico and Cuba before Easter. He made the announcement when he celebrated Mass in the Vatican Basilica on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe - Patron of Latin America, on the occasion of the 200^th anniversary of the independence of Latin American countries and the Carribean. “I have the intention to undertake an apostolic visit to Mexico and Cuba before Easter, to proclaim there the word of Christ and affirm the conviction that this is a precious time to evangelize with a steady faith, a living hope and an ardent charity,” the pontiff said speaking in Spanish in his homily honouring Our Lady of Guadalupe. The announcement drew applause from throngs of faithful at St. Peter’s Basilica. Catholic church officials in Cuba and Mexico have spoken since November about a possible Papal visit, but Monday’s remarks were the first public comments the Pope has made about his plans.
The Cuban Conference of Bishops on Tuesday welcomed the pontiff’s comment with much happiness and hope . The head of the Cuban Bishops Conference Archbishop Jose Felix Perez said the “ Pontiff had a special affection toward the people of Cuba for the social conditions in the country.” It will be the second trip of a pope to the Communist ruled island, following a trip there by Pope John Paul II in 1998. Pope Benedict is expected to take part in events celebrating the 400th anniversary of Cuba’s patron saint – Our Lady of Charity. The Tiny statue kept at El Cobre Basilica is said to have been found there by three fishermen on Sept. 8, 1612 in the Bay of Nipe in eastern Cuba.