During his visit to Cuba last week Pope Benedict XVI met with Cuban President Raul Castro. During that visit the Holy Father made one request: that Good Friday be considered a public holiday in that country. A communique from Cuba’s state-run news service Granma published on Saturday, said Raul Castro had informed Pope Benedict his request ...read more

The fruits of a papal visit are often not noticeable until after the banners and altars have come down.  In Cuba it didn’t take long to see the gifts of the papal visit. Catholic News Service reported this week on the impact the Pope’s overnight stay in El Cobre. The preparations alone meant that infrastructure ...read more

This evening, Pope Benedict XVI said farewell to Cuba at José Martí International Airport, Havana, Cuba as he concluded his 6 day apostolic visit to Mexico and Cuba. Find the full text of the Holy Father’s farewell address below. I thank God for allowing me to visit this beautiful Isle which left so deep a mark ...read more

Memorable quotes from Day 3 of Pope Benedict’s apostolic voyage to Cuba. “The truth is a desire of the human person, the search for which always supposes the exercise of authentic freedom. Many, however, prefer shortcuts, trying to avoid this task. Some, like Pontius Pilate, ironically question the possibility of even knowing what truth is ...read more

Today Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Holy Mass at “Plaza de la Revolución” in Havana, Cuba to commemorate the Jubilee Year devoted to Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre. Please find the full text of his homily below. Dear Brothers and Sisters, “Blessed are you, Lord God…, and blessed is your holy and glorious name” ...read more

Earlier today in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, Pope Benedict XVI visited the Shrine of the “Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre”. At the shrine he made the following address. Dear Brothers and Sisters, I have come as a pilgrim to the house of the blessed statue of Our Lady of Charity, la Mambisa as you ...read more

14 years after Bl. John Paul II’s trip to Cuba, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated mass tonight on Cuban soil to commemorate the 400 year anniversary of the discovery of the image of the “Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre”. Below find a clip of the Holy Father’s homily. Please find the full text of his ...read more

The Holy Father’s address given today at Antonio Maceo International Airport, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. Below find the full text of Pope Benedict’s arrival address. Thank you, Mr President, for your welcome and your kind words, with which you also conveyed the sentiments of respect of the Cuban government and people for the Successor of ...read more

Today the Holy Father said farewell to Mexico at the International Airport of Guanajuato, Leon, Mexico. Thousands gathered to say goodbye to their beloved Pope. Below find the full text of his farewell address. My brief but intense visit to Mexico is now coming to an end. Yet this is not the end of my ...read more

Memorable quotes from Day 3 of Pope Benedict’s Apostolic voyage to Mexico. “Certainly your dioceses face a number of challenges and difficulties at the present moment. Yet, in the sure knowledge that the Lord is risen, we are able to move forward confidently, in the conviction that evil does not have the last word in ...read more