Rome (EFE).-Pope Francis received the Cuban President, Miguel Díaz-Canel, with an affectionate: “I love seeing you here, I love that he came” upon his arrival today at the Vatican for a meeting that lasted 40 minutes
For his part, the Cuban leader thanked the pontiff for the effort to hold this audience a few days after leaving the hospital.
“I love seeing him recovered. Thank you very much for arranging this meeting,” Díaz-Canel said after entering the Paul VI Hall building where the meeting was held, to which the pope replied: “well, halfway, because I still have the points,” referring to to the operation for an abdominal hernia from which he was discharged last Friday.
Later, the president introduced him to his wife, Lis Cuesta Peraza, who he said is “a great admirer” of the pontiff.
“I love him very much, an infinite pleasure,” said the president’s wife emotionally, whom Francis asked “to throw him a prayer from time to time,” as heard in the video of the meeting distributed by the Vatican.
The situation in Cuba and the international scene
After the traditional exchange of gifts, in which -among other things- Francisco gave the Cuban leader a bronze dove of peace and a book, and Díaz-Canel reciprocated with another sculpture in silver, bronze and wood and two volumes of Cuban poets, the visit continued at the Vatican Secretariat of State.
There, the Cuban president met with his manager, Pietro Parolin, with whom he discussed the situation of the Caribbean country and the contribution offered by the Church, as well as other international issues of mutual interest.
In a brief statement, the Vatican explained that during the conversations with the Secretary of State, “the importance of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Cuba was discussed, evoking the historic visit of Saint John Paul II in 1998, of which the 25th anniversary is celebrated”.
“Next, they discussed the situation in the country and the contribution that the Church offers, especially in the field of charity” and “they touched on some international issues of mutual interest and stressed the importance of maintaining the commitment to always promote the common good”.
In the note there were no references to the Vatican request for the release of some political prisoners presented by Cardinal Beniamino Stella during his visit to the island last February, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the historic visit of the Polish pope.
While Díaz-Canel and the Cuban delegation were in the Vatican a few meters away, a dozen Cuban demonstrators living in Italy protested against the Pope’s reception of the Cuban president.