Nuns gather to hear Pope Benedict XVI celebrate Mass in Havana's Plaza de la Revolucion beneath the stenciled gaze of communist icon Che Guevara on Wednesday, March 28.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
Nuns gather to hear Pope Benedict XVI celebrate Mass in Havana's Plaza de la Revolucion beneath the stenciled gaze of communist icon Che Guevara on Wednesday, March 28.
The pope waves as he arrives to conduct Mass at Havana's Revolution Square/
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
The pope waves as he arrives to conduct Mass at Havana's Revolution Square/
A nun celebrates before the arrival of the pope.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
A nun celebrates before the arrival of the pope.
Two youngsters hold a banner -- "John Paul friend, bless Benedict" -- during a procession of Our Lady of Charity through the streets of Havana.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
Two youngsters hold a banner -- "John Paul friend, bless Benedict" -- during a procession of Our Lady of Charity through the streets of Havana.
Pope Benedict XVI arrives in his popemobile at Revolution Square. Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro said he asked for a "modest and simple" meeting with the pontiff.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
Pope Benedict XVI arrives in his popemobile at Revolution Square. Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro said he asked for a "modest and simple" meeting with the pontiff.
Nuns wait for the arrival of the pope at Revolution Square.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
Nuns wait for the arrival of the pope at Revolution Square.
Pope Benedict XVI gestures upon arrival at Jose Martí International Airport in Havana on Tuesday, March 27.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
Pope Benedict XVI gestures upon arrival at Jose Martí International Airport in Havana on Tuesday, March 27.
Pope Benedict XVI and Cuban President Raul Castro wave at the Revolution Palace in Havana, on Tuesday.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
Pope Benedict XVI and Cuban President Raul Castro wave at the Revolution Palace in Havana, on Tuesday.
People cheer as the pope arrives at Jose Marti International Airport on the second day of his three-day visit.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
People cheer as the pope arrives at Jose Marti International Airport on the second day of his three-day visit.
Pilgrims from around the word wait to attend Mass at the Cathedral of Havana.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
Pilgrims from around the word wait to attend Mass at the Cathedral of Havana.
The pope's visit is seen as a possible tourism boost to Cuba's cash-strapped economy
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
The pope's visit is seen as a possible tourism boost to Cuba's cash-strapped economy
Pope Benedict XVI prays during a visit to the Church of Charity in Santiago de Cuba.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
Pope Benedict XVI prays during a visit to the Church of Charity in Santiago de Cuba.
The pope greets Cuban President Raul Castro in Revolution Square on Monday, March 26.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
The pope greets Cuban President Raul Castro in Revolution Square on Monday, March 26.
Pope Benedict XVI speaks in Revolution Square.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
Pope Benedict XVI speaks in Revolution Square.
Cubans take communion during the mass of Pope Benedict XVI in Revolution Square.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
Cubans take communion during the mass of Pope Benedict XVI in Revolution Square.
Pope Benedict XVI is welcomed by children as Cuban President Raul Castro looks on upon arrival to Santiago de Cuba on Monday, March 26. Fourteen years after Pope John Paul II visited Cuba, Pope Benedict is making his first trip to the communist country.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
Pope Benedict XVI is welcomed by children as Cuban President Raul Castro looks on upon arrival to Santiago de Cuba on Monday, March 26. Fourteen years after Pope John Paul II visited Cuba, Pope Benedict is making his first trip to the communist country.
After a three-day visit to Mexico, Benedict XVI arrived in Cuba hoping to boost the Catholic Church's special dialogue with the communist regime. Benedict will conduct Mass in the city of Santiago de Cuba, followed by Mass in Havana, before leaving Wednesday.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
After a three-day visit to Mexico, Benedict XVI arrived in Cuba hoping to boost the Catholic Church's special dialogue with the communist regime. Benedict will conduct Mass in the city of Santiago de Cuba, followed by Mass in Havana, before leaving Wednesday.
People await the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI in Revolution Square in Santiago de Cuba.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
People await the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI in Revolution Square in Santiago de Cuba.
A worker prepares a stage for the arrival of the pope. He wil mark the 400th anniversary of Cuba's patroness, the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
A worker prepares a stage for the arrival of the pope. He wil mark the 400th anniversary of Cuba's patroness, the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre.
Posters on the back of a van welcome Pope Benedict XVI at Revolution Square in Santiago de Cuba on Monday.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
Posters on the back of a van welcome Pope Benedict XVI at Revolution Square in Santiago de Cuba on Monday.
Cubans watch a projection with images of the pope on the walls of a Havana cathedral on Sunday, March 25.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
Cubans watch a projection with images of the pope on the walls of a Havana cathedral on Sunday, March 25.
Two women sell crucifixes to tourists.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
Two women sell crucifixes to tourists.
Cuba's Ladies in White march near a church in Havana's Miramar district, protesting human rights abuses on the island.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
Cuba's Ladies in White march near a church in Havana's Miramar district, protesting human rights abuses on the island.
Nuns attend a mass at the Church of Charity in El Cobre, southeast of Havana. Unlike his visit to Mexico, Pope Benedict XVI is coming to a decidedly not-very-Catholic Cuba, hoping to inspire believers and bring new faithful to the fold.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
Nuns attend a mass at the Church of Charity in El Cobre, southeast of Havana. Unlike his visit to Mexico, Pope Benedict XVI is coming to a decidedly not-very-Catholic Cuba, hoping to inspire believers and bring new faithful to the fold.
Sisters with Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity speak to a member of the Cuban military at Antonio Maceo Revolution Square.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
Sisters with Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity speak to a member of the Cuban military at Antonio Maceo Revolution Square.
Alter boys prepare for the start of a morning service at Santo Angel Custodio church before the pope's arrival.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
Alter boys prepare for the start of a morning service at Santo Angel Custodio church before the pope's arrival.
A woman prays before the start of services at Santo Angel Custodio church.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
A woman prays before the start of services at Santo Angel Custodio church.
Parishioners attend a service at the Basilica del Cobre, the shrine to Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, Cuba's patron saint.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
Parishioners attend a service at the Basilica del Cobre, the shrine to Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, Cuba's patron saint.
A poster advertising the visit of Pope Benedict XVI was put in an ice cream shop.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
A poster advertising the visit of Pope Benedict XVI was put in an ice cream shop.
On Saturday, people walk past the stage set up for Pople Benedict XVI in Havana.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
On Saturday, people walk past the stage set up for Pople Benedict XVI in Havana.
The stage is set in Santiago de Cuba's Revolution Square on Friday.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
The stage is set in Santiago de Cuba's Revolution Square on Friday.
The government of Cuba, which officially subscribes to the Marxist ideology, has a complex relationship with the Roman Catholic church. The church is neither embraced nor rejected despite the presence of tens of thousands of Catholics on the island.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
The government of Cuba, which officially subscribes to the Marxist ideology, has a complex relationship with the Roman Catholic church. The church is neither embraced nor rejected despite the presence of tens of thousands of Catholics on the island.
Mission houses serve as churches in many rural parts of Cuba because of the lack of government-sanctioned churches in the communist country.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba —
Mission houses serve as churches in many rural parts of Cuba because of the lack of government-sanctioned churches in the communist country.