Vatican spokesman: papal trip to Cuba is a possibility
April 17, 2015
The director of the Holy See Press Office said that there is a possibility that Pope Francis may visit Cuba in September.
“The Holy Father has taken into consideration the idea of making a stop in Cuba on the occasion of his upcoming trip to the United States,” Father Federico Lombardi said in an April 17 statement. “However, contacts with the Cuban authorities are still in too early a phase for it to be possible to regard this stop as a firm decision and an operative plan.”
Some Vatican-watchers have speculated that the Pope might add a stop in Cuba to the itinerary for his scheduled July trip to South America. Father Lombardi's statement seems to eliminate that possibility.
St. John Paul II made an apostolic journey to Cuba in 1998, as did Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.
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Further information:
- Dichiarazione del Direttore della Sala Stampa, P. Federico Lombardi, S.I., su possibile viaggio di Papa Francesco a Cuba (Holy See Press Office)
- Vatican confirms papal trip to South America in July (CWN, 4/16)
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