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| Cuba: Pope Francis to celebrate Mass before thousands | Cuba: Pope Francis to celebrate Mass before thousands |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Pope Francis is expected to draw in huge crowds in Cuba as he celebrates Sunday Mass on his first visit to the Communist-ruled island. | Pope Francis is expected to draw in huge crowds in Cuba as he celebrates Sunday Mass on his first visit to the Communist-ruled island. |
| President Raul Castro, a non-Catholic, is due to attend the ceremony in Havana's iconic Revolution Square. | President Raul Castro, a non-Catholic, is due to attend the ceremony in Havana's iconic Revolution Square. |
| The Pope may also later meet retired Cuban leader Fidel Castro, 89. | The Pope may also later meet retired Cuban leader Fidel Castro, 89. |
| Pope Francis, who is at the start of his Cuba and US trip, has been credited with helping the recent thaw in diplomatic ties between both countries. | Pope Francis, who is at the start of his Cuba and US trip, has been credited with helping the recent thaw in diplomatic ties between both countries. |
| He was greeted by thousands after his arrival on Saturday, when he was driven from Havana airport to the home of the Vatican's envoy. | He was greeted by thousands after his arrival on Saturday, when he was driven from Havana airport to the home of the Vatican's envoy. |
| He hailed improving ties between the US and Cuba as "an example of reconciliation for the whole world". But he also urged both Cuba and the US to "persevere on the path" of detente. | He hailed improving ties between the US and Cuba as "an example of reconciliation for the whole world". But he also urged both Cuba and the US to "persevere on the path" of detente. |
| Preparations | Preparations |
| Hundreds of thousands are expected to attend the open-air Mass in Revolution Square, where a giant poster of Jesus Christ has been hung up. | Hundreds of thousands are expected to attend the open-air Mass in Revolution Square, where a giant poster of Jesus Christ has been hung up. |
| Major preparations were under way ahead of his visit, with a large altar and stands for the congregation and choir erected in the square. | Major preparations were under way ahead of his visit, with a large altar and stands for the congregation and choir erected in the square. |
| Streets have been newly paved in Havana, and the cathedral has been renovated. | Streets have been newly paved in Havana, and the cathedral has been renovated. |
| It will mark the first time Cubans are addressed in their mother tongue of Spanish by a Pope - Francis is the first to hail from Latin America. | It will mark the first time Cubans are addressed in their mother tongue of Spanish by a Pope - Francis is the first to hail from Latin America. |
| At the scene: the BBC's Will Grant | |
| From early morning, the plaza began to fill with the faithful who have turned out to worship together and catch a glimpse of Pope Francis as he celebrates Mass. | |
| Thousands of people are gathering under a punishing Caribbean sun for the service, which has echoes of the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1998. | |
| But Pope Francis is a very different man to his predecessors and Cuba is a very different place. He has helped bring about some of that change through brokering Havana's talks with Washington. | |
| And many Cubans - Catholic and non-believers alike - are here to thank him for it. | |
| Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, president of the Pope's native Argentina, is also due to attend. | Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, president of the Pope's native Argentina, is also due to attend. |
| Pope Francis is also scheduled to meet Raul Castro in a formal meeting, and possibly Raul's brother Fidel too. | Pope Francis is also scheduled to meet Raul Castro in a formal meeting, and possibly Raul's brother Fidel too. |
| "If it happens, it will happen (Sunday). And we'll get you the necessary information," Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told journalists on Saturday. | "If it happens, it will happen (Sunday). And we'll get you the necessary information," Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told journalists on Saturday. |
| It is not clear to what extent - if any - Pope Francis will address in public the issue of political freedom with either Raul or his brother, says the BBC's Julian Miglierini in Havana. | |
| The Pope praised improved co-operation between the Cuban government and the Church on Saturday, but called for the Church in Cuba to have "the freedom and the means" to pursue its mission. | The Pope praised improved co-operation between the Cuban government and the Church on Saturday, but called for the Church in Cuba to have "the freedom and the means" to pursue its mission. |
| Both his predecessors, Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, visited the island during their papacy. | Both his predecessors, Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, visited the island during their papacy. |
| Francis's trip will later take him to the US, which he will also be visiting for the first time since his election. | Francis's trip will later take him to the US, which he will also be visiting for the first time since his election. |