The first question related to the Pope's opinion on the trade embargo against
Cuba, and whether he intends to refer to this theme in his address to the
United
States Congress.

"The question of the trade embargo is part of the negotiations", replied
Francis. "This is public: both presidents have referred to it. So, it is a
public matter, that leads in the direction of the good relations that are being
constructed. My hope is that an agreement satisfying both parties may be
reached. ... With regard to the position of the Holy See on the embargoes,
previous Popes have spoken not only about this case, but also on other cases of
embargoes. On this matter I refer to the social doctrine of the Church, which
is
precise and just. With regard to the United States Congress ... I am thinking
about what I would like to say in this respect; but not specifically on this
theme, but rather in general on the issue of bilateral and multilateral
agreements, as a sign of progress in co-existence. But this theme in a concrete
sense is not mentioned, I am almost sure of this".

"We have heard that more than fifty dissidents were arrested outside the
nunciature because they were trying to obtain a meeting with you. Would you
like
to meet the dissidents? And if such a meeting took place, what would you say to
them?"

"Firstly, I am not aware that this happened. ... Directly, I do not know. Your
two
questions concern the future. I would like this to happen. I like meeting all
people. First of all because I believe that all people are sons and daughters
of
God, and secondly, an encounter with any person is enriching. Yes, I would like
to meet them. If you would like me to continue to speak about the dissidents, I
have something very concrete to say. First of all, it was very clear that I
would not have given any audience, as I was asked for an audience not only with
the dissidents, but also with people from other sectors, including various
heads
of State. ... Audiences were planned neither with dissidents, nor with others.
Secondly, from the nunciature there were telephone calls with various people
who
form part of this group of dissidents. The task of the nuncio was to
communicate
to them that with pleasure, upon my arrival at the cathedral for the meeting
with consecrated persons, I would have greeted those who were there. A
greeting,
this is true. But given that nobody presented themselves for the greeting, I do
not know if they were there or not. I greeted all those who were there. Above
all I greeted the sick, those who were in wheelchairs. But nobody presented
him-
or herself as a dissident. From the nunciature calls were made to invite them
for a passing greeting".

The third question was on the suffering of the Cuban Catholic Church under
Fidel
Castro, and whether during his meeting with the Commander, the Pope thought he
had repented to any degree.

"Repentance is something very intimate, it is a matter of conscience", said the
Holy Father. "In the encounter with Fidel I spoke with him about the Jesuits he
knew, as one of the gifts I took was a book by Fr. Llorente, a close friend of
his and a Jesuit, and another by Fr. Pronzato which he will certainly
appreciate. We spoke about these things. We spoke at length about 'Laudato
si'',
as he is very interested in environmental issues. It was an informal and
spontaneous meeting. We spoke about the encyclical as he is very concerned
about
this matter, but we did not talk about the past".

"Given that the Pope has denounced the current economic system, some sectors of
American society have asked whether the Pope is communist and others, indeed,
whether he is Catholic. What does Francis think about this?"

"I am sure that I have not said anything that is not present in the social
Doctrine of the Church", responded the Holy Father. "On another flight a
journalist asked me if, when I went to speak to the Popular Movements, if the
Church was following me, and I answered that I follow the Church, as in this
way
I don't think I can make a mistake. I don't believe I have said anything that
is
not in the social Doctrine of the Church. These things can be explained.
Perhaps
an explanation gave the impression that I tended a little to the left, but it
would be an error of explanation. No. My doctrine, on all of this, on 'Laudato
si'', on economic imperialism and all of this, it is that of the social
doctrine
of the Church. And if it is necessary for me to recite the Creed, I am willing
to do so!"

Another journalist recalled that during his last apostolic trip to Latin
America
the Pope harshly criticised the liberal capitalist system while in Cuba his
criticism of the Communist system was less severe. "What is the reason for this
difference?"

"In the addresses I gave in Cuba, I always mentioned the social Doctrine of the
Church", explained Francis. "The things that need to be corrected I have
mentioned clearly. ... I have not said anything more than what I have written
in
the encyclical and in 'Evangelii Gaudium' on unfettered or liberal capitalism.
...
But here in Cuba ... it has been a very pastoral trip, with the Catholic
community, with Christians, and also with those people of good will and so my
discourses have been homilies. ... Even with the young - whether or not they
were
young believers and, among the believers, of different religions - it was a
discourse of hope to encourage dialogue between them, to seek the things they
have in common and not those that divide them, to build bridges. ... It was a
more
pastoral language. Instead, in the encyclical it was necessary to tackle more
technical issues".

The penultimate question was whether or not the Catholic Church will assume any
role in encouraging openness to political freedom in Cuba, considering the role
the Holy See has already played in re-establishing relations between Cuba and
the United States.

"The Church in Cuba has drawn up a list of prisoners to be pardoned", revealed
the Pope. "Amnesty has been granted to 3,500 of them, according to the
president
of the Episcopal Conference. And there are still cases under consideration. And
the Church here in Cuba is working for further amnesty. For example, some
people
tell me it would be good to do away with life imprisonment. Speaking plainly,
life imprisonment is almost a form of hidden death sentence. I have said this
publicly in an address to European jurists. You stay there, dying every day
without hope of freedom. It is a hypothesis. Another hypothesis is that there
be
general amnesties every year or two. But the Church is working, has worked on
this. I am not saying that these three thousand were freed because of the
Church
lists, no. The Church has made a list, has officially requested amnesty, and
will continue to do so".

Finally, a reporter asked if the fact that three Popes have visited Cuba in
twenty years may be interpreted as indicating that the island is in some way
afflicted, inasmuch as a doctor visits a sick patient rather than a person in
good health.

"No, no", he replied. "The first was John Paul II, the first historic visit",
he
affirmed. "But it was normal - he visited many countries, including those that
were hostile towards the Church. The second was Pope Benedict XVI. ...
Initially
my idea was to enter the United States via Mexico, but to visit Mexico without
visiting Our Lady of Guadalupe would not have been good. Then, with the
announcement of 17 December last year, when the talks that had been taking
place
for almost a year were made public, I said that I would like to visit the
United
States via Cuba. And I chose to do so for this reason. But Cuba does not have
any particular affliction that other countries do not have".

___________________________________________________________


Francis arrives in the United States of America

Vatican City, 23 September 2015 (VIS) - With his arrival, ten minutes earlier
than expected (3.49 p.m. local time, 9.50 p.m. in Rome) at the Andrews air base
in Washington D.C. yesterday, the Pope began the second part of his apostolic
trip. During his six days in the United States, he will meet with President
Barack Obama and the American episcopate, canonise Blessed Junipero Serra,
speak
before the United States Congress (the first Pontiff to do so), meet the
homeless in New York, address the United Nations, participate in an
interreligious meeting at Ground Zero and a meeting for religious freedom,
visit
prison detainees and celebrate mass at the World Meeting of Families.

Upon arrival in the United States, Francis was received by President Barack
Obama accompanied by the First Lady Michelle Obama, and their two daughters.
The
mayor of the District of Colombia and the governors of Maryland and Virginia
were also present, along with the apostolic nuncio in the United States,
Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, and the archbishop of Washington, Cardinal
Donald
Wuerl.

The Pope and the President, with the First Lady, spoke privately for a few
minutes in the airport. Following their conversation the Pope transferred by
car
to the apostolic nunciature in Washington D.C., where he spent the night.

At 9.15 a.m. local time (3.15 p.m. in Rome) the welcome ceremony will be held
in
the White House, and in the grounds the Holy Father will pronounce his first
discourse in the United States. He will then meet in private with President
Obama, after which he will meet the bishops in the Cathedral of St. Matthew the
Apostle. He will later celebrate Mass for the canonisation of Blessed Junipero
Serra in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Francis will
conclude
his day with a visit to the John Paul II Seminary.

___________________________________________________________


Other Pontifical Acts

Vatican City, 23 September 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has accepted the
resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Ponta de Pedras, Brazil,
presented by Bishop Alessio Saccardo, S.J., upon reaching the age limit. He is
succeeded by Bishop Teodoro Mendes Tavares, C.S.Sp., coadjutor of the same
diocese.

___________________________________________________________

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www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va

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Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting
the source:  V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service.
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