Pope may visit Mexico, Cuba

Pope Benedict XVI (CNS photo/Isabella Bonotto, Catholic Press Photo)

VATICAN CITY (CNS)– Vatican officials are at an advanced stage in studying the possibility of a papal trip to Mexico and Cuba next spring, the Vatican spokesman said.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the spokesman, told reporters on Nov. 10 that the nuncios to Mexico and Cuba have been told to inform those governments that “the Pope is studying a concrete plan to visit the two countries, responding to the invitations received” from them.
The Mexican government and Mexican Catholics repeatedly have said they’d like Pope Benedict to visit “and he is happy to finally be able to respond,” the Jesuit said.
“Cuba is another country that really wants to see the Pope,” he said, and a papal visit could offer great encouragement to the people and the country “in an important period of their history.”
Father Lombardi said the timing would be related to the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the image of Our Lady of Charity of Cobre, the patroness of Cuba.
He excluded other countries being added to the trip and said that because of the altitude of Mexico City, it is unlikely the Pope would visit the Mexican capital. “The best alternatives” will be studied immediately, he said.