Pilgrim Pope: Pope Benedict XVI to Visit Cuba, Perhaps Mexico in 2012

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
12/11/2011
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Pope will visit island nation in connection with the 400th anniversary of the Virgin of Caridad del Cobre

Pope Benedict XVI will visit the Communist-run island of Cuba in spring of 2012. It will be the first trip to Cuba by a pontiff since John Paul II's historic tour in 1998. The exact date of the trip, coinciding with the 400th anniversary of Cuba's patron saint, the Virgin of Caridad del Cobre will be announced in Rome next week.

'It will be a moment for energizing the faith in Cuba. It will give strength and vigor to the faith in Cuba,' Monsignor Jose Felix Perez, executive secretary of the Cuban Bishops Conference said. 'The visit should be one of peace and reconciliation.'

Facebook Delicous MySpace

Twitter Stumble Digg

More Destinations

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - "It will be a moment for energizing the faith in Cuba. It will give strength and vigor to the faith in Cuba," Monsignor Jose Felix Perez, executive secretary of the Cuban Bishops Conference said. "The visit should be one of peace and reconciliation."

Perez said the pontiff had "a special affection toward the people of Cuba for the social conditions in our country."

The Catholic Church has played an increasingly important part in Cuba in recent years, helping negotiate the release of political prisoners in 2009 and 2010. The church has also consulted with Cuban President Raul Castro and his advisers on free-market changes he is implementing in the nation.

The pope also is also considering a visit to Mexico, and the December 12 date for announcing the schedule for his trip coincides with celebrations of Mexico's patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Benedict has chiefly limited his travels to mostly Europe, although he did visit Brazil in 2007 and has said he hopes to return in 2013 for World Youth Day, the church's youth festival. Benedict also he has a trip to Benin coming up later this month, his second to Africa in his six-year-pontificate.

After the 1959 Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro increased anti-clerical actions across the nation. Authorities discouraged Christmas celebrations, closed religious schools in 1962 and barred Communist Party membership to people of religious belief.

After the Cold War, Cuba removed references to atheism from the constitution in the 1990s and allowed believers of all faiths to join the party.

When Pope John Paul visited in 1998, Castro shed his trademark olive-green fatigues for a business suit and tie and to greet the pope personally at the airport.

On the eve of the visit, Cuba's Catholic bishops on Thursday issued a call for rapprochement and reconciliation among Cubans during the coming year. A Cuban Church leader says that the pope would meet government officials during his visit.

"Reunion and reconciliation among Cubans should be one fruit of the Jubilee Year as a result, in each one of us, of a change in mentality and attitude toward our neighbor," the bishop's conference said in a statement.

� 2011, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Cuba, Mexico, Pope Benedict XVI, Virgin of Caridad del Cobre

NEWSLETTERS »

Rate This Article

Was this helpful to you? Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Would you be interested in more articles like this? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

1 - 1 of 1 Comments

Edward
1 year ago
Behind the story of the papal visit, the true meaning of the this historic pope's visit, "Hope, prosperity and peace to all humanity and the world". However this goal is far-reaching in some parts of the world where bloodshed still remains widespread. In middleast, in africa, which the pope was recently anxiously calling on for peace and disarm. Jesus repetitious word before his return to heaven, Peace be with you. Indeed, the same calling and calling the pope has ever wished to the whole mankind. In the upcoming pope's visit to Cuba, an unusual visit to a communist country the pope has never become acceptable before, I believe this is a beginning, a first step towards reconciliation and cooperation, a common prayer and a common goal of lasting peace and prosperity. May the pope's presence in Cuba be truly a gesture of cooperation and friendship between the Cuban government and the church in the interest of common good and peace.

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment