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| Pope Francis Celebrates Mass in Cuba Before Heading to U.S. | Pope Francis Celebrates Mass in Cuba Before Heading to U.S. |
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| EL COBRE, Cuba — Pope Francis spent his final hours in Cuba on Tuesday morning in the country’s heartland of religion and revolution, visiting the shrine of the country’s patron in El Cobre and delivering his final words to the Cuban people in the nearby city of Santiago de Cuba. | |
| The pope celebrated Mass at a church near the mountains of the Sierra Maestra that houses the 19th century shrine of the Virgin of Charity. The shrine holds the country’s most venerated Roman Catholic icon: a small wooden statue of the Virgin Mary that was found in the nets of local fishermen more than 400 years ago. | The pope celebrated Mass at a church near the mountains of the Sierra Maestra that houses the 19th century shrine of the Virgin of Charity. The shrine holds the country’s most venerated Roman Catholic icon: a small wooden statue of the Virgin Mary that was found in the nets of local fishermen more than 400 years ago. |
| After, he delivered an ode to the family as his final address at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Santiago de Cuba, drawing a parallel between the lessons of God and the lessons of the home. | |
| “Without family, without the warmth of home, life grows empty, there is a weakening of the networks which sustain us in adversity, nurture us in daily living and motivate us to build a better future,” he told those in attendance. | “Without family, without the warmth of home, life grows empty, there is a weakening of the networks which sustain us in adversity, nurture us in daily living and motivate us to build a better future,” he told those in attendance. |
| By stopping in Cuba before his much-awaited visit to the United States, Pope Francis was taking something of a papal victory lap, celebrating the role he played in brokering a thaw in relations between Havana and Washington. The pope used his star power to bolster the standing of the church in Cuba, where it was marginalized by the government for years. | By stopping in Cuba before his much-awaited visit to the United States, Pope Francis was taking something of a papal victory lap, celebrating the role he played in brokering a thaw in relations between Havana and Washington. The pope used his star power to bolster the standing of the church in Cuba, where it was marginalized by the government for years. |
| There were some expectations that he would raise the issues of human rights and political liberty with his hosts, but Pope Francis opted instead to be cautious. He did not meet with Cuban dissidents or directly challenge President Raúl Castro or his brother, Fidel, though he did make several comments that some analysts interpreted as veiled disapproval of the government’s ideological bent. The pope did not speak out against the American trade embargo against Cuba, either. | There were some expectations that he would raise the issues of human rights and political liberty with his hosts, but Pope Francis opted instead to be cautious. He did not meet with Cuban dissidents or directly challenge President Raúl Castro or his brother, Fidel, though he did make several comments that some analysts interpreted as veiled disapproval of the government’s ideological bent. The pope did not speak out against the American trade embargo against Cuba, either. |
| The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said Pope Francis had spoken with “clarity, discretion and restraint,” and that it was not his role to be provocative on domestic political issues. | The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said Pope Francis had spoken with “clarity, discretion and restraint,” and that it was not his role to be provocative on domestic political issues. |
| “The pope wants to make a contribution, but the responsibility lies with the leaders of nations,” Father Lombardi told reporters at a news conference Monday night. “He does not want to exaggerate his role. He just wants to contribute by making suggestions, promoting dialogue, justice and the common good of people.” | “The pope wants to make a contribution, but the responsibility lies with the leaders of nations,” Father Lombardi told reporters at a news conference Monday night. “He does not want to exaggerate his role. He just wants to contribute by making suggestions, promoting dialogue, justice and the common good of people.” |
| Still, at the Mass on Tuesday morning with President Castro in attendance, the pope once more urged Cubans to embrace service over ideals, a theme that was seen as a commentary on the Communist government that has ruled the country for more than 50 years. | Still, at the Mass on Tuesday morning with President Castro in attendance, the pope once more urged Cubans to embrace service over ideals, a theme that was seen as a commentary on the Communist government that has ruled the country for more than 50 years. |
| “Our revolution comes about through tenderness, through the joy which always becomes closeness and compassion, and leads us to get involved in, and to serve, the life of others,” Pope Francis said of the church. | “Our revolution comes about through tenderness, through the joy which always becomes closeness and compassion, and leads us to get involved in, and to serve, the life of others,” Pope Francis said of the church. |
| Some analysts said Pope Francis’s restrained remarks worked to the advantage of Cuba’s leaders and the Obama administration. They saw the visit as a success because it allowed all parties to keep moving toward normalized relations. | Some analysts said Pope Francis’s restrained remarks worked to the advantage of Cuba’s leaders and the Obama administration. They saw the visit as a success because it allowed all parties to keep moving toward normalized relations. |
| “It’s a win-win situation for these three guys,” said Carlos Alzugaray Treto, a Cuban former diplomat who is close to the Castros. “They all want the same thing.” | “It’s a win-win situation for these three guys,” said Carlos Alzugaray Treto, a Cuban former diplomat who is close to the Castros. “They all want the same thing.” |
| The pope used his popularity and cachet as the man who helped ease tensions with America to expand the influence of the church in Cuba. For President Castro, the positive publicity from the pope’s visit was good for the Cuban government’s image at home and around the world. For Mr. Obama, good will and momentum from the pope’s trip may help build support among American lawmakers for an easing of the embargo and other measures. | The pope used his popularity and cachet as the man who helped ease tensions with America to expand the influence of the church in Cuba. For President Castro, the positive publicity from the pope’s visit was good for the Cuban government’s image at home and around the world. For Mr. Obama, good will and momentum from the pope’s trip may help build support among American lawmakers for an easing of the embargo and other measures. |
| The strategy appeared to work with ordinary Cubans as well. Many found validation, whether secular or religious, from the visit of a pope who speaks their language and who shared a message of service to the poor and equality that resonated deeply on the island. | The strategy appeared to work with ordinary Cubans as well. Many found validation, whether secular or religious, from the visit of a pope who speaks their language and who shared a message of service to the poor and equality that resonated deeply on the island. |
| On Monday night, as a torrent of rain fell over the small town of El Cobre, the site of the shrine, Rosana Losada Ruiz invited passers-by into her home facing the church. Seated in her living room with a portrait of Jesus on the wall, she found no fault with Pope Francis’s visit. | On Monday night, as a torrent of rain fell over the small town of El Cobre, the site of the shrine, Rosana Losada Ruiz invited passers-by into her home facing the church. Seated in her living room with a portrait of Jesus on the wall, she found no fault with Pope Francis’s visit. |
| She had seen two previous popes, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, but like other Cubans, she said she felt closer to Francis because of his heritage. “This pope is a pope of the people,” she said. | She had seen two previous popes, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, but like other Cubans, she said she felt closer to Francis because of his heritage. “This pope is a pope of the people,” she said. |
| As for what would come from his visit, she was optimistic. Things have already improved with America, she said, and now she expected relations with other countries to improve as well. | As for what would come from his visit, she was optimistic. Things have already improved with America, she said, and now she expected relations with other countries to improve as well. |
| “Change will come little by little,” she said. “He is encouraging change in a soft voice.” | “Change will come little by little,” she said. “He is encouraging change in a soft voice.” |
| The pope was scheduled to fly to Washington on Tuesday afternoon to open the next leg of his journey, a six-day visit to the United States. He will be greeted at Joint Base Andrews, better known as Andrews Air Force Base, by President Obama, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and their wives, and about 1,000 invited guests. | The pope was scheduled to fly to Washington on Tuesday afternoon to open the next leg of his journey, a six-day visit to the United States. He will be greeted at Joint Base Andrews, better known as Andrews Air Force Base, by President Obama, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and their wives, and about 1,000 invited guests. |
| The capital was abuzz on Tuesday. In preparation for his arrival, a number of roads were closed, pedestrian traffic was redirected and other security measures were put in place, from the Capitol to the White House to the Apostolic Nunciature where he will stay. Tens of thousands of residents and visitors to the city prepared to converge at his various planned stops, and politicians of all stripes were busy claiming his moral authority for their particular causes. | The capital was abuzz on Tuesday. In preparation for his arrival, a number of roads were closed, pedestrian traffic was redirected and other security measures were put in place, from the Capitol to the White House to the Apostolic Nunciature where he will stay. Tens of thousands of residents and visitors to the city prepared to converge at his various planned stops, and politicians of all stripes were busy claiming his moral authority for their particular causes. |
| “There’s a palpable excitement and energy in this town,” Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, observed on Monday. “I think it relates to the palpable excitement about the impending visit of this pope, particularly – a pope that has inspired so many with his willingness to not just talk the talk, but walk the walk,” when it comes to social and economic justice. | “There’s a palpable excitement and energy in this town,” Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, observed on Monday. “I think it relates to the palpable excitement about the impending visit of this pope, particularly – a pope that has inspired so many with his willingness to not just talk the talk, but walk the walk,” when it comes to social and economic justice. |
| A pomp-filled arrival ceremony is planned for Wednesday morning on the South Lawn of the White House, complete with a 21-gun salute, the Marine band playing the pontifical anthem and about 15,000 people gathered on the grounds and the nearby Ellipse. After a private meeting with Mr. Obama in the Oval Office, there is to be a brief parade around the Ellipse, prayers at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, and a Mass for about 30,000 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. | A pomp-filled arrival ceremony is planned for Wednesday morning on the South Lawn of the White House, complete with a 21-gun salute, the Marine band playing the pontifical anthem and about 15,000 people gathered on the grounds and the nearby Ellipse. After a private meeting with Mr. Obama in the Oval Office, there is to be a brief parade around the Ellipse, prayers at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, and a Mass for about 30,000 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. |
| The highlight of his stay in Washington will be an address to a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday morning, at the invitation of Speaker John A. Boehner, Republican of Ohio. The speech will be the first time any pope has spoken to the American legislature. | The highlight of his stay in Washington will be an address to a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday morning, at the invitation of Speaker John A. Boehner, Republican of Ohio. The speech will be the first time any pope has spoken to the American legislature. |
| Then, after a meeting with indigent, homeless and other disadvantaged people served by Catholic Charities, the pope will head to New York for two days, and later will visit Philadelphia. | Then, after a meeting with indigent, homeless and other disadvantaged people served by Catholic Charities, the pope will head to New York for two days, and later will visit Philadelphia. |