Pope Francis arrives in Havana, starting historic 10-day trip
HAVANA -- Pope Francis has landed in Havana, kicking off a historic 10-day trip to Cuba and the United States.
PHOTOS: Pope Francis makes historic trip to US, Cuba
4:40 p.m.
Pope Francis is hailing detente between the United States and Cuba as a model of reconciliation. He urges Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro to continue working to build normal ties as the pontiff begins a 10-day tour of the former Cold War foes.
Francis served as mediator for the resumption of diplomatic relations this year. He says, "I urge political leaders to persevere on this path and to develop all its potentialities."
Francis calls the negotiations that led to the reopening of embassies in Havana and Washington "an example of reconciliation for the entire world."
At an airport arrival ceremony headed by President Raul Castro, Francis says he wants his greeting "to embrace especially all those who, for various reasons, I will not be able to meet" - a possible nod to political dissidents as well as average Cubans.
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4:30 p.m.
Cuban President Raul Castro is praising Pope Francis' critiques of the global economic system, saying it has "globalized capital and turned money into its idol."
In a lengthy speech welcoming the pope at Havana's international airport, Castro says Cuba's communist government has "founded an equitable society with social justice." He thanks the pope for mediating negotiations on detente between the United States and Cuba.
Castro is also calling for the end of the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba and the return of the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay.
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3:51 p.m.
Pope Francis has landed in Havana, launching a historic 10-day trip to Cuba and the United States after serving as secret mediator of the historic rapprochement between the former Cold War foes.
Cuban President Raul Castro is at the airport to welcome the pontiff, who will be offering a show of solidarity with Cubans and delivering a message in the United States that Hispanics are the bedrock of the American church.
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For full coverage on Pope Francis' U.S. visit, click here.
