This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/sep/21/pope-francis-in-cuba-pontiff-to-hold-mass-in-holguins-revolution-square-live
The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 21 | Version 22 |
|---|---|
| Pope Francis in Cuba: pontiff arrives in Santiago - as it happened | Pope Francis in Cuba: pontiff arrives in Santiago - as it happened |
| (17 days later) | |
| 1.15am BST | 1.15am BST |
| 01:15 | 01:15 |
| It is Pope Francis’s penultimate day in Cuba before heading to the US for his first ever visit to the country. Francis is credited with playing a key role in the easing of relations between the two countries, though the US economic embargo against Cuba remains. | It is Pope Francis’s penultimate day in Cuba before heading to the US for his first ever visit to the country. Francis is credited with playing a key role in the easing of relations between the two countries, though the US economic embargo against Cuba remains. |
| The pontiff will deliver a homily at a Santiago church tomorrow before heading to Washington DC. | The pontiff will deliver a homily at a Santiago church tomorrow before heading to Washington DC. |
| Here are some of the highlights of his trip from today: | Here are some of the highlights of his trip from today: |
| 1.07am BST | 1.07am BST |
| 01:07 | 01:07 |
| Pope Francis is in the village of El Cobre, praying to Our Lady of Charity in the Minor Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity. He will give a homily there tomorrow at morning mass. | Pope Francis is in the village of El Cobre, praying to Our Lady of Charity in the Minor Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity. He will give a homily there tomorrow at morning mass. |
| Pope Francis, praying to Our Lady of Charity, also known as Our Lady of Copper. #PapaEnCuba. pic.twitter.com/4UPZPWj1FO | Pope Francis, praying to Our Lady of Charity, also known as Our Lady of Copper. #PapaEnCuba. pic.twitter.com/4UPZPWj1FO |
| #PapaEnCuba leaves a silver vase with his coat of arms and ceramic flowers at Shrine of Our Lady. pic.twitter.com/Fm2BWaCwP0 | #PapaEnCuba leaves a silver vase with his coat of arms and ceramic flowers at Shrine of Our Lady. pic.twitter.com/Fm2BWaCwP0 |
| 12.51am BST | 12.51am BST |
| 00:51 | 00:51 |
| Pope Francis travels to village of El Cobre in Santiago for a visit to Our Lady of the Charity. | Pope Francis travels to village of El Cobre in Santiago for a visit to Our Lady of the Charity. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.52am BST | at 12.52am BST |
| 12.41am BST | 12.41am BST |
| 00:41 | 00:41 |
| While the Pope refrained from making overtly political statements during his first few days in Cuba, his audience may not have seen it that way, says John L Allen, associate editor of the news site Crux. | While the Pope refrained from making overtly political statements during his first few days in Cuba, his audience may not have seen it that way, says John L Allen, associate editor of the news site Crux. |
| This is especially true, Allen says, because as a leader of a global religion, the Pope’s actions are “unavoidably political.” More in his analysis on Crux: | This is especially true, Allen says, because as a leader of a global religion, the Pope’s actions are “unavoidably political.” More in his analysis on Crux: |
| When the pontiff invoked “change,” he seemed to have in mind primarily personal moral conversion. When he referred to a traitor, he was talking about the New Testament figure of Matthew, who was a tax collector for the Romans and thus considered a traitor to his own Jewish people. | When the pontiff invoked “change,” he seemed to have in mind primarily personal moral conversion. When he referred to a traitor, he was talking about the New Testament figure of Matthew, who was a tax collector for the Romans and thus considered a traitor to his own Jewish people. |
| In other words, this was not party rhetoric but basic homiletics. | In other words, this was not party rhetoric but basic homiletics. |
| Yet in the Cuban context, in which “change” is the watchword of everyone hoping for the island’s isolation and stagnation to end, and where generations have been raised to watch out for counter-revolutionary traitors, those terms still can’t help but have a political ring. | Yet in the Cuban context, in which “change” is the watchword of everyone hoping for the island’s isolation and stagnation to end, and where generations have been raised to watch out for counter-revolutionary traitors, those terms still can’t help but have a political ring. |
| 12.23am BST | 12.23am BST |
| 00:23 | 00:23 |
| Video from Pope Francis’s open mass in Holguín earlier today. More than 100,000 people gathered for the mass at Revolutionary Square. | Video from Pope Francis’s open mass in Holguín earlier today. More than 100,000 people gathered for the mass at Revolutionary Square. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.23am BST | at 12.23am BST |
| 12.02am BST | 12.02am BST |
| 00:02 | 00:02 |
| Francis is meeting with bishops in Santiago before a prayer at the Minor Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre. Similar to today, he has a packed schedule for tomorrow, when he makes his first trip to the US. | Francis is meeting with bishops in Santiago before a prayer at the Minor Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre. Similar to today, he has a packed schedule for tomorrow, when he makes his first trip to the US. |
| He’ll begin Tuesday back at the Minor Basilica for mass, where he will deliver a homily. Then, he’ll deliver a speech and meet with families at the Cathedral of our Lady of Assumption. | He’ll begin Tuesday back at the Minor Basilica for mass, where he will deliver a homily. Then, he’ll deliver a speech and meet with families at the Cathedral of our Lady of Assumption. |
| The Pope and his entourage are due to leave Cuba around noon, heading to Andrews Air Force Base just outside of Washington DC. President Barack Obama is set to officially welcome him at the base, a rare gesture that has been extended to nearly no other world leader. | The Pope and his entourage are due to leave Cuba around noon, heading to Andrews Air Force Base just outside of Washington DC. President Barack Obama is set to officially welcome him at the base, a rare gesture that has been extended to nearly no other world leader. |
| 11.38pm BST | 11.38pm BST |
| 23:38 | 23:38 |
| Scenes from the Pope’s blessing of Holguín from the Loma de la Cruz. | Scenes from the Pope’s blessing of Holguín from the Loma de la Cruz. |
| 11.26pm BST | 11.26pm BST |
| 23:26 | 23:26 |
| More from Angela Bruno, who spotted this piece by BBC Mundo Miami Editor Lilet Heredero, who was born and raised in Cuba. She shed light on what it was like to grow up in the atheist Cuba of the 80s – and what it was like to enter a new world full of religion once she left. | More from Angela Bruno, who spotted this piece by BBC Mundo Miami Editor Lilet Heredero, who was born and raised in Cuba. She shed light on what it was like to grow up in the atheist Cuba of the 80s – and what it was like to enter a new world full of religion once she left. |
| The whole story is in Spanish, here. Below, we’ve translated Heredero’s most revelatory memories. | The whole story is in Spanish, here. Below, we’ve translated Heredero’s most revelatory memories. |
| A Very First Easter | A Very First Easter |
| “When I left Cuba and experienced by first Holy Week, it was then only that I realized how removed my life had been from religion. … My reality was very different than that of other Latin American countries. | “When I left Cuba and experienced by first Holy Week, it was then only that I realized how removed my life had been from religion. … My reality was very different than that of other Latin American countries. |
| I remember sitting with my friend under the spring London sun. She explained to me that during Easter, the resurrection of Christ was celebrated. … I didn’t have a clue.” | I remember sitting with my friend under the spring London sun. She explained to me that during Easter, the resurrection of Christ was celebrated. … I didn’t have a clue.” |
| Praying to Che | Praying to Che |
| “In school, we pledged allegiance to communism and our daily ‘prayer’ was dedicated to becoming just like Che. I don’t remember hearing about religion in any class. During that time, one of the most common catchphrases was Marx’s, ‘Religion is the opium of the people.’” | “In school, we pledged allegiance to communism and our daily ‘prayer’ was dedicated to becoming just like Che. I don’t remember hearing about religion in any class. During that time, one of the most common catchphrases was Marx’s, ‘Religion is the opium of the people.’” |
| No Xmas, Just Revolution | No Xmas, Just Revolution |
| “If you’re asking what happened during Christmas, I’ll tell you: We had a family dinner on the 24th and a party to await the 1st of January, known to us as the anniversary of the Revolution. No mention of Christ and no Christmas tree.” | “If you’re asking what happened during Christmas, I’ll tell you: We had a family dinner on the 24th and a party to await the 1st of January, known to us as the anniversary of the Revolution. No mention of Christ and no Christmas tree.” |
| Hidden Prayers | Hidden Prayers |
| “The religious had to hide their beliefs if they didn’t want to lose their jobs or be expelled from the university. Some people had a very rough time – but that was never spoken of.” | “The religious had to hide their beliefs if they didn’t want to lose their jobs or be expelled from the university. Some people had a very rough time – but that was never spoken of.” |
| Grandmothers and Saints | Grandmothers and Saints |
| “My two grandmothers never went back to church. Before the revolution, they went to mass every Sunday. But the two of them always hid their saint medallions in their chests. My maternal grandmother wore a medallion for the Lady of Charity, Cuba’s patron saint. My paternal grandmother wore one for Saint Jude, because according to her, it made miracles happen.” | “My two grandmothers never went back to church. Before the revolution, they went to mass every Sunday. But the two of them always hid their saint medallions in their chests. My maternal grandmother wore a medallion for the Lady of Charity, Cuba’s patron saint. My paternal grandmother wore one for Saint Jude, because according to her, it made miracles happen.” |
| Goodbye to Godlessness | Goodbye to Godlessness |
| “When the Berlin wall fell, some of the winds of change could be felt in Cuba. … In the early ‘90s, the Communist Party admitted its first Catholic member. | “When the Berlin wall fell, some of the winds of change could be felt in Cuba. … In the early ‘90s, the Communist Party admitted its first Catholic member. |
| During Cuba’s hard economic crisis, known as the Special Period, my grandmother returned to the church. She would come back home with canned meat, tuna and medicine. | During Cuba’s hard economic crisis, known as the Special Period, my grandmother returned to the church. She would come back home with canned meat, tuna and medicine. |
| Every Sunday, the lines for the church in my neighborhood grew longer … they were several blocks long. | Every Sunday, the lines for the church in my neighborhood grew longer … they were several blocks long. |
| In 1992, Cuba amended its constitution, leaving atheism behind and declared itself a secular state.” | In 1992, Cuba amended its constitution, leaving atheism behind and declared itself a secular state.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.33pm BST | at 11.33pm BST |
| 11.12pm BST | 11.12pm BST |
| 23:12 | 23:12 |
| Some insights in to what the Catholic clergy are up to while waiting for the Pope. | Some insights in to what the Catholic clergy are up to while waiting for the Pope. |
| selfies have arrived in Cuba, btw pic.twitter.com/ldjVzVRSUv | selfies have arrived in Cuba, btw pic.twitter.com/ldjVzVRSUv |
| Warming up the chair? pic.twitter.com/uxSfF7mXXE | Warming up the chair? pic.twitter.com/uxSfF7mXXE |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.33pm BST | at 11.33pm BST |
| 10.46pm BST | 10.46pm BST |
| 22:46 | 22:46 |
| Tomorrow, Francis heads to Washington DC, where he will become the first Pope to address Congress. The Capitol has put some measures in place in an attempt to deter politicians from overwhelming the pontiff with photo ops and handshakes. | Tomorrow, Francis heads to Washington DC, where he will become the first Pope to address Congress. The Capitol has put some measures in place in an attempt to deter politicians from overwhelming the pontiff with photo ops and handshakes. |
| David Hawkings wrote in Roll Call about how Congressional leadership is looking for lawmakers to line the aisles and promise not to go for a papal handshake: | David Hawkings wrote in Roll Call about how Congressional leadership is looking for lawmakers to line the aisles and promise not to go for a papal handshake: |
| All of them are on the same page about bending over backward to accommodate the Vatican’s expectations, which can summarized as “Look, but don’t touch,” lest Congress drive its record-low public approval even lower by coming across as collectively preening and boorish before a global television audience. | All of them are on the same page about bending over backward to accommodate the Vatican’s expectations, which can summarized as “Look, but don’t touch,” lest Congress drive its record-low public approval even lower by coming across as collectively preening and boorish before a global television audience. |
| The first manifestation of that was last week’s “courtesy notice” delivered to all senators and House members, over the signatures of the top four leaders, offering this behavioral guidance: “Out of respect for the pope’s schedule and the expectation of a timely address, we respectfully request that you assist us by refraining from handshakes and conversations along and down the center aisle.” | The first manifestation of that was last week’s “courtesy notice” delivered to all senators and House members, over the signatures of the top four leaders, offering this behavioral guidance: “Out of respect for the pope’s schedule and the expectation of a timely address, we respectfully request that you assist us by refraining from handshakes and conversations along and down the center aisle.” |
| But the bosses are assuming their ask is going to be ignored — by the most fervently faithful Catholic lawmakers, who won’t be able to risk trying to kiss the papal ring or touch the hem of his cassock, as well as by many of the most publicity-driven members, desperate to make it into the same TV frame as Francis and get photographed glad-handing or even hugging him. | But the bosses are assuming their ask is going to be ignored — by the most fervently faithful Catholic lawmakers, who won’t be able to risk trying to kiss the papal ring or touch the hem of his cassock, as well as by many of the most publicity-driven members, desperate to make it into the same TV frame as Francis and get photographed glad-handing or even hugging him. |
| 10.29pm BST | 10.29pm BST |
| 22:29 | 22:29 |
| The Pope’s visit has offered a platform to celebrate Cuban music, says my colleague Angela Bruno. | The Pope’s visit has offered a platform to celebrate Cuban music, says my colleague Angela Bruno. |
| Yami Montoya, a Cuban journalist, said on Twitter: “Cuban rhythms, faith and culture are present in today’s in today’s holy celebration conducted by Pope Francis in Holguín” | Yami Montoya, a Cuban journalist, said on Twitter: “Cuban rhythms, faith and culture are present in today’s in today’s holy celebration conducted by Pope Francis in Holguín” |
| Paloma Ovejero, correspondent for Spain’s COPE, captured musicians playing at this morning’s mass in Holguín. | Paloma Ovejero, correspondent for Spain’s COPE, captured musicians playing at this morning’s mass in Holguín. |
| The video prompted Twitter user José Sierra to remark on the Pontiff’s restraint: “How difficult it is not to dance or move, even just a little bit, while listening to this music!” | The video prompted Twitter user José Sierra to remark on the Pontiff’s restraint: “How difficult it is not to dance or move, even just a little bit, while listening to this music!” |
| @pgovejero Qué dificilísimo es de no bailar o no moverse ni siquiera un poquito, al escuchar esta música. #PapaEnCuba #Holguín | @pgovejero Qué dificilísimo es de no bailar o no moverse ni siquiera un poquito, al escuchar esta música. #PapaEnCuba #Holguín |
| Pero qué música!!! Pero qué Cuba esta!!! Toma Aleluya @cope_es #ElPapaenCuba pic.twitter.com/7Qi7RYY040 | Pero qué música!!! Pero qué Cuba esta!!! Toma Aleluya @cope_es #ElPapaenCuba pic.twitter.com/7Qi7RYY040 |
| Ovejero wrote: “What music! This country that is Cuba!” | Ovejero wrote: “What music! This country that is Cuba!” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.30pm BST | at 10.30pm BST |
| 10.05pm BST | 10.05pm BST |
| 22:05 | 22:05 |
| Catechism students and musicians are waiting for the Pope in Santiago, where he has just landed. | Catechism students and musicians are waiting for the Pope in Santiago, where he has just landed. |
| Un grupo de niños de la catequesis de la Caridad del Cobre se prepara para dar la bienvenida al @Pontifex_es mañana pic.twitter.com/SQhNt2Bi24 | Un grupo de niños de la catequesis de la Caridad del Cobre se prepara para dar la bienvenida al @Pontifex_es mañana pic.twitter.com/SQhNt2Bi24 |
| Los santiagueros esperan a ritmo de son al @Pontifex_es #PapaEnCuba pic.twitter.com/q5eFulxERU | Los santiagueros esperan a ritmo de son al @Pontifex_es #PapaEnCuba pic.twitter.com/q5eFulxERU |
| In the above video from AP reporter Teresa de Miguel, the lead singer belts out, “How good it is to wait for the Pope, this town of Santiago is waiting for the Pope …” | In the above video from AP reporter Teresa de Miguel, the lead singer belts out, “How good it is to wait for the Pope, this town of Santiago is waiting for the Pope …” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.22pm BST | at 10.22pm BST |
| 9.51pm BST | 9.51pm BST |
| 21:51 | 21:51 |
| Pope Francis arrives in Santiago | Pope Francis arrives in Santiago |
| The papal plane has landed in Santiago, where it was met by cheering, flag-waving crowds. | The papal plane has landed in Santiago, where it was met by cheering, flag-waving crowds. |
| Pope Francis will spend the evening meeting and praying with bishops. | Pope Francis will spend the evening meeting and praying with bishops. |
| Tomorrow morning, he is scheduled to deliver a homily and speech in Santiago, before flying to Washington DC in the afternoon for his first visit to the US. | Tomorrow morning, he is scheduled to deliver a homily and speech in Santiago, before flying to Washington DC in the afternoon for his first visit to the US. |