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| Pope Benedict meets President Raul Castro in Havana | Pope Benedict meets President Raul Castro in Havana |
| (14 days later) | |
| Pope Benedict has met Cuban President Raul Castro on the second day of his visit to the communist-run island. | Pope Benedict has met Cuban President Raul Castro on the second day of his visit to the communist-run island. |
| Meanwhile, former President Fidel Castro has written that he is "happy" to meet the pope, in an article on the government's website. | Meanwhile, former President Fidel Castro has written that he is "happy" to meet the pope, in an article on the government's website. |
| After arriving in the capital, Havana, the pope told a crowd he prayed for a Cuba "advancing along the ways of renewal and hope". | After arriving in the capital, Havana, the pope told a crowd he prayed for a Cuba "advancing along the ways of renewal and hope". |
| Cuban officials have insisted that political reform is not on the agenda. | Cuban officials have insisted that political reform is not on the agenda. |
| Marino Murillo, one of Castro's vice-presidents and the "economics czar" in charge of liberalisation, told journalists the government was updating the Cuban economic model to make socialism sustainable. | Marino Murillo, one of Castro's vice-presidents and the "economics czar" in charge of liberalisation, told journalists the government was updating the Cuban economic model to make socialism sustainable. |
| "There will be no political reform in Cuba," he said. | "There will be no political reform in Cuba," he said. |
| The pope's visit marks the 400th anniversary of the discovery of a statue of the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre - also known as the Mambisa Virgin - which was found floating in a bay by fishermen. It was revered by Cuba's independence heroes. | The pope's visit marks the 400th anniversary of the discovery of a statue of the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre - also known as the Mambisa Virgin - which was found floating in a bay by fishermen. It was revered by Cuba's independence heroes. |
| Improving relations | Improving relations |
| Pope Benedict XVI knelt for several minutes before the wooden statue, where he said he had prayed for those who "suffer" and are "deprived of freedom". | Pope Benedict XVI knelt for several minutes before the wooden statue, where he said he had prayed for those who "suffer" and are "deprived of freedom". |
| "I have entrusted to the Mother of God the future of your country, advancing along the ways of renewal and hope, for the greater good of all Cubans," the pope said. | "I have entrusted to the Mother of God the future of your country, advancing along the ways of renewal and hope, for the greater good of all Cubans," the pope said. |
| Later, Pope Benedict held an hour-long closed-door meeting with the leader of the communist country. | Later, Pope Benedict held an hour-long closed-door meeting with the leader of the communist country. |
| No details were released, but brief video feeds showed Raul Castro greeting the pope at the Palace of the Revolution, and later seeing him off. | No details were released, but brief video feeds showed Raul Castro greeting the pope at the Palace of the Revolution, and later seeing him off. |
| The BBC's Sarah Rainsford says change and openness are emerging as the themes of the Papal visit to the one-party state, where Roman Catholics now account for 10% of the population. | The BBC's Sarah Rainsford says change and openness are emerging as the themes of the Papal visit to the one-party state, where Roman Catholics now account for 10% of the population. |
| Observers say relations between Church and state have warmed in Cuba in recent years. | Observers say relations between Church and state have warmed in Cuba in recent years. |
| Raul Castro has accepted the Church's mediation on issues such as political prisoners, recognising its position as the most influential organisation outside the communist government. | Raul Castro has accepted the Church's mediation on issues such as political prisoners, recognising its position as the most influential organisation outside the communist government. |
| The Pope's visit is seen as an effort to further improve relations and increase the role of the church in Cuban society at a time of rapid change. | The Pope's visit is seen as an effort to further improve relations and increase the role of the church in Cuban society at a time of rapid change. |
| In a short opinion piece on the government's website, Fidel Castro announced he would be happy to meet Pope Benedict, after speculation of a possible meeting. | In a short opinion piece on the government's website, Fidel Castro announced he would be happy to meet Pope Benedict, after speculation of a possible meeting. |
| According to AP, Mr Castro said: "I will happily greet His Excellency Pope Benedict XVI as I did John Paul II, a man for whom contact with children and the humble generated feelings of affection." | According to AP, Mr Castro said: "I will happily greet His Excellency Pope Benedict XVI as I did John Paul II, a man for whom contact with children and the humble generated feelings of affection." |
| The pope is scheduled to leave on Wednesday afternoon after a Mass in Havana's Revolution Plaza. | The pope is scheduled to leave on Wednesday afternoon after a Mass in Havana's Revolution Plaza. |
| Our correspondent says that if the pope does meet Fidel Castro, it would be a good further opportunity to discuss the processes of change in Cuba. The pope has said the church is ready to help with those changes. | Our correspondent says that if the pope does meet Fidel Castro, it would be a good further opportunity to discuss the processes of change in Cuba. The pope has said the church is ready to help with those changes. |
| Church officials have said there is no time in his schedule to meet dissidents. | Church officials have said there is no time in his schedule to meet dissidents. |
| Opposition groups say dozens of dissidents were detained ahead of the visit, and others were prevented from attending the service in Santiago. | Opposition groups say dozens of dissidents were detained ahead of the visit, and others were prevented from attending the service in Santiago. |