Fidel Castro to Meet Pope Benedict XVI

Havana, Mar 28. – Fidel Castro will meet with Pope Benedict XVI in this capital on Wednesday, on the Supreme Pontiff's last day in Cuba.

In his recent reflection entitled "The Hard Times of Humanity", the leader of the Cuban Revolution talked about the meeting with the head of State of the Vatican.

"I will happily greet His Excellency Pope Benedict XVI, as I did with Pope John Paul II in 1998, a man for whom contact with children and the humble raised feelings of affection," the revolutionary leader wrote.

Fidel Castro said he decided to ask him for some minutes on his very busy schedule, after knowing from Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez about the Holy Father's willingness to materialize that meeting.

On Monday, the first day of the Pope's activities in Cuba, the Vatican's spokesman, Federico Lombardi, told reporters about His Holiness' wish to meet with Fidel Castro.

On Tuesday, Benedict XVI was welcomed at Havana's Palace of the Revolution by President Raul Castro.

On Wednesday, the Pope will wrap up his visit to Cuba, where he will officiate an open-air mass at Havana's Jose Marti Revolution Square.(Prensa Latina)