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| The Latest: Pope looks forward to prayer at Guadalupe shrine | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| HAVANA — The Latest on Pope Francis’s historic meeting in Cuba with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill and his subsequent trip to Mexico (all times local): | HAVANA — The Latest on Pope Francis’s historic meeting in Cuba with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill and his subsequent trip to Mexico (all times local): |
| 8:40 a.m. | |
| Pope Francis says his deepest desire for his trip to Mexico is to simply pray before the shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe. | |
| Speaking to reporters en route to his first stop in Havana, Francis said he knew that the Virgin is beloved to Catholics and even those who are not. | |
| “This mystery that they study, study, and there are no human explanations,” he said. “The most scientific study says this is something of God. This is what I’ll tell the Mexicans, even those who say ‘I’m atheist but I’m a Guadalupeno.’ — Then he corrected himself: “Some Mexicans. Not all are atheists.” | |
| Francis arrives in Mexico Friday night and he’s due to celebrate Mass in the Basilica of Guadalupe on Saturday evening. The trip to Mexico runs through Wednesday. | |
| ___ | |
| 8:15 a.m. | 8:15 a.m. |
| Popes always receive gifts on their foreign visits, and Francis is no different, getting a sombrero, some chocolate chip cookies and a single white rose, which has significance for him. But Noel Diaz’s gift as the pope was flying to Cuba and Mexico was particularly heartfelt. | Popes always receive gifts on their foreign visits, and Francis is no different, getting a sombrero, some chocolate chip cookies and a single white rose, which has significance for him. But Noel Diaz’s gift as the pope was flying to Cuba and Mexico was particularly heartfelt. |
| Diaz runs a Catholic TV station in Los Angeles that covers migration issues closely. He told the pope that as a child growing up poor in Tijuana, his single mother didn’t have enough money to buy him a new outfit when he made his First Communion. So at age 7, Diaz started shining shoes on the streets of Tijuana to earn enough to buy a new shirt and pants. | Diaz runs a Catholic TV station in Los Angeles that covers migration issues closely. He told the pope that as a child growing up poor in Tijuana, his single mother didn’t have enough money to buy him a new outfit when he made his First Communion. So at age 7, Diaz started shining shoes on the streets of Tijuana to earn enough to buy a new shirt and pants. |
| On Friday, Diaz gave Francis a custom-made shoeshine kit, “in memory of all those who work hard every day ... those who get up in the morning and do anything to put bread on the table,” Diaz said. | On Friday, Diaz gave Francis a custom-made shoeshine kit, “in memory of all those who work hard every day ... those who get up in the morning and do anything to put bread on the table,” Diaz said. |
| And then he bent down and shined Francis’ shoe. | And then he bent down and shined Francis’ shoe. |
| Francis inscribed a book Diaz had brought: “Thank you for your example. And please pray for me.” | Francis inscribed a book Diaz had brought: “Thank you for your example. And please pray for me.” |
| ___ | ___ |
| 8 a.m. | 8 a.m. |
| Pope Francis says he plans to visit Colombia in the first half of next year if the Colombian government and rebels make progress and sign a peace treaty to end Latin American’s longest-running conflict. | Pope Francis says he plans to visit Colombia in the first half of next year if the Colombian government and rebels make progress and sign a peace treaty to end Latin American’s longest-running conflict. |
| Asked about his plans en route to Cuba and Mexico, Francis told Colombian journalist: “If the peace process goes forward and they sign, I promise that in the first half of 2017 I’ll go to Colombia.”, he would visit the country in the first half of 2017. | Asked about his plans en route to Cuba and Mexico, Francis told Colombian journalist: “If the peace process goes forward and they sign, I promise that in the first half of 2017 I’ll go to Colombia.”, he would visit the country in the first half of 2017. |
| Colombian officials apparently are already taking that for granted. | Colombian officials apparently are already taking that for granted. |
| President Juan Manuel Santos sent a tweet Thursday announcing a papal visit in the first half of 2017. He called the visit “very important.” | President Juan Manuel Santos sent a tweet Thursday announcing a papal visit in the first half of 2017. He called the visit “very important.” |
| Francis gave a strong push to the Colombian negotiators while he was in Cuba last year, telling them they don’t have the right to abandon peace efforts. | Francis gave a strong push to the Colombian negotiators while he was in Cuba last year, telling them they don’t have the right to abandon peace efforts. |
| The pope’s first stop this time again is Havana, where he’s to meet with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in the aims of easing a historic rift in Christianity. | The pope’s first stop this time again is Havana, where he’s to meet with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in the aims of easing a historic rift in Christianity. |
| ___ | ___ |
| 7:50 a.m. | 7:50 a.m. |
| Pope Francis is taking a big step toward improving relations with the Russian Orthodox Church by meeting in Cuba with Patriarch Kirill. But when might he visit Russia? | Pope Francis is taking a big step toward improving relations with the Russian Orthodox Church by meeting in Cuba with Patriarch Kirill. But when might he visit Russia? |
| Francis was asked the question as he greeted journalists en route to Havana on Friday. | Francis was asked the question as he greeted journalists en route to Havana on Friday. |
| “China and Russia, I have them here,” he said, pointing to his heart. “Pray.” | “China and Russia, I have them here,” he said, pointing to his heart. “Pray.” |
| Popes have dreamed of visiting Russia but the circumstances continue to dim any hope of a papal visit anytime soon. | Popes have dreamed of visiting Russia but the circumstances continue to dim any hope of a papal visit anytime soon. |
| The Alitalia jet carrying Francis and his entourage departed Friday morning from Rome’s airport. First stop is Havana’s airport, where Francis will meet for a few hours with Kirill in a ground-breaking step toward improving Catholic-Orthodox relations. | The Alitalia jet carrying Francis and his entourage departed Friday morning from Rome’s airport. First stop is Havana’s airport, where Francis will meet for a few hours with Kirill in a ground-breaking step toward improving Catholic-Orthodox relations. |
| Francis will then visit Mexico, returning to Rome on Feb. 18. | Francis will then visit Mexico, returning to Rome on Feb. 18. |
| Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |