Cuba Pardons Additional 787 Inmates after Pope's Clemency Call

The government of Cuba said on Tuesday it was granting pardons to 787 convicts in response to Pope Francis' Holy Year call to all heads of state for acts of clemency.

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Those released would include women, youths, the ill and "other categories" according to newspaper Granma.

However, authorities have said those convicted of murder, rape, child abuse and drug trafficking would be excluded from the pardon.

Earlier this month during a special Jubilee Mass dedicated to prisoners in Vatican City, the pope asked the authorities to consider carrying out an “act of clemency” in favor of prisoners.

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During the pontiff's visit to Havana in September this year, the government pardoned 3,522 prisoners. The country made a similar gesture in 2012, during the visit by Pope Benedict.

There are about 57,000 prisoners in Cuban jails, according to official data released in 2012.

In January 2015, shortly after Havana and Washington announced the restoration of their relations after decades of hostility, the Cuban government released 53 prisoners whom the United States considered "political."