Pope Francis Holds Second Mass Service in Cuba

Pope Francis held mass in the city of Holguin, in the southwest region of Cuba, where several thousand people turned out to Calixto Garcia Revolution Square to participate.

“Let us share God’s tenderness and mercy with the sick, the imprisoned, the elderly, families in difficult circumstances,” said Pope Francis in his homily that focused on the exercise of faith.

Holguin is considered an important city for Christians in Cuba and is home to a giant cross measuring 1,790 meters (5872 feet) in height. Pope Francis is expected to later visit the site, known as the Hill of the Cross, where he will bless the city.

In Depth: Pope Francis Visits Cuba and the United States

Pope Francis is the third pope to visit Cuba and the first pope to visit Holguin. According to local legend, in 1612 the Virgin Mary, or Our Lady of Charity, appeared. She was declared the Patroness of Cuba in 1916 by Pope Benedict XV.

The pope ended his homily by asking for Our Lady of Charity to take care of Cubans as she took care of Jesus.

“It was the veterans of the War of Independence, moved by feelings of faith and patriotism, who asked that the Mambi Virgin become the patroness of a free and sovereign Cuba,” said Pope Francis upon his arrival in Cuba Saturday. “Since then she has accompanied the history of the Cuban people, holding the hope that preserves the dignity of people in the most difficult situations and championing the promotion of all that dignifies human beings.”

Pope Francis added that he would ask Our Lady of Charity to help Cuba “follow the paths of justice, peace, freedom and reconciliation.”

Peace and reconciliation have been major themes in the pontiff's speeches during his time in Cuba. Pope Francis spoke in favor of the ongoing peace process between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Colombian government, currently underway in Cuba.

The pope also affirmed his support for efforts at reconciliation between the United States and Cuba. The two countries recently reestablish diplomatic relations, in part thanks to the efforts by Pope Francis himself.

Pope Francis' next stop will be Santiago, considered a center of Cuban culture and also an important reference point for the country's modern political history.

The pontiff will be in Cuba until Tuesday and will then depart for the United States where he is expected to address the United Nations and the U.S. Congress.