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Pope asks for prayers for his visit to Cuba, USA


Pope Francis today appealed for prayers for his Apostolic Voyage to Cuba and to the United States, which begins on Saturday. "I greet the Cuban and the American people," he said, "who, guided by their Pastors, have prepared themselves spiritually" for the visit. The Pope invoked the "light and strength of the Holy Spirit, and the intercession of Mary Most Holy" the Patroness of Cuba under the title of the Virgin of Charity of Cobre, and the Patroness of America under the title of the Immaculate Conception.

The Holy Father also noted that on Saturday Pio Alberto del Corona will be beatified in the diocese of San Miniato, in Italy. Venerable Pio Alberto was Bishop of San Miniato and founder of the Dominican Sisters of the Holy Spirit. Pope Francis described him as a "zealous guide and a wise teacher of the people entrusted to him" and prayed that his example and intercession "might help the Church to journey in the spirit of the Gospel, bearing fruits of good works."

The official English translation of the Pope's appeal at the end of Wednesday's General Audience follows:

Next Saturday I will depart for an Apostolic Voyage to Cuba and the United States of America, a mission to which I am going with great hope. The principle reason for the Voyage is the Eighth World Meeting of Families, which will take place in Philadelphia. I will also be going to the central headquarters of the United Nations on the 70th anniversary of its institution. Even now I greet with affection the Cuban and American people, who, guided by their pastors, are spiritually prepared. I ask everyone to accompany me with prayer, invoking the light and strength of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Mary Most Holy, Patroness of Cuba as the Virgin of Charity of Cobre, and Patroness of the United States of America as the Immaculate Conception.

Also next Saturday, at San Miniato, Pio Alberto del Corona, Bishop of that Diocese and founder of the Dominican Sisters of the Holy Spirit, will be beatified. He was a zealous guide and wise teacher of the people entrusted to him. May his example and his intercession help the Church to journey in the spirit of the Gospel, bearing fruits of good works.

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Pope Francis will be the third Pope to visit Cuba, following those made to the Caribbean island by his two predecessors, Popes Benedict and Saint John Paul II. Pope Francis' engagements in Cuba include an open-air Mass in Havana during which he will give first communion to five children in a move symbolizing hope and growth for the Catholic Church there. Father Lombardi said although it was not included in the papal programme, he could not rule out a possible meeting between the Pope and Cuba's former long-time leader Fidel Castro. Other highlights of the papal visit to Cuba include a meeting with young people in the capital, a visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity of Cobre and an encounter with families.

On leaving Cuba on 22 September, the Pope will fly to Washington DC where he will be greeted by President Obama and other civil and religious authorities. The official welcoming ceremony for him will take place the following day at the White House. During his stay in the US capital, Pope Francis will preside over the canonization Mass for Blessed Junipero Serra, who helped evangelize the United States in the 18th century. The next day, 24 September, sees Pope Francis become the first Pontiff ever to address both houses of the US Congress. Another keenly-awaited event during this visit will take place in New York City on 25 September when the Pope is due to address the United Nations. He is also scheduled to make a visit to Ground Zero, the site of the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers.

Pope Francis' final leg of his US visit takes him to the city of Philadelphia where he will attend the Church's World Meeting of Families. Father Lombardi said that in all three stops of his visit, the Pope will be paying particular attention to the welfare of the poor, to prisoners and to charitable initiatives. During his trip, Pope Francis will make a total of 26 speeches: eight in Cuba and 18 in the US of which four will be in English and the rest in the Pope's native Spanish. He returns to Rome on the morning of Monday 28 September.

Source: VIS/Vatican Radio

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