Photo: Pope Set to Visit Cuba
At the conclusion of the National Pilgrimage of “Our Lady of Caridad del Cobre,” the Bishops of Cuba issued a message for the Marian Jubilee Year which celebrates 400 years of the finding of the image of ” Our Lady of Caridad del Cobre “, entitled “To Jesus through Mary, Charity unites us “, and have confirmed the upcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the island, which is why it is called the visit of the “Pilgrim of Charity.”
The Bishops in their message urge all Cubans, “to live with joy the Marian Jubilee Year, from January 7, 2012 to January 5, 2013” and invite to take part in various celebrations programmed. The message recalls the experience of the Marian pilgrimage made and the faith of the Cuban people, which is expressed with clear manifestations of everyone’s religious sentiment, young and old. “Our Lady of Charity is an expression of Cuban soul,” write the Bishops, “as demonstrated by the long history of 4 centuries written in the soul of the nation”.
In conclusion, the Bishops called on the Cuban people to “live with joy the Marian Jubilee Year,” and announce the visit of Pope Benedict XVI, who palns to visit the country in the Spring, 2012 as a “Pilgrim of Charity”, “to foster and strengthen the faith of the Cuban people, to commemorate 400 years of the presence of the Blessed Virgin’s image among us. “
This will be the first papal visit since 1998 when John Paul II visited.