Cardinal Beniamino Stella

Havana, January 23 (RHC) Cardinal Beniamino Stella begins a visit to Cuba today, as an envoy of Pope Francis, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

During his stay, Stella will hold talks with Cuban authorities and carry out other pastoral activities, the source said.

The Cardinal's presence in Havana is part of the 25th anniversary of St. John Paul II's apostolic trip to Cuba.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel recently recalled on Twitter the pastoral trip made to the island by John Paul II, from January 21 to 25, 1998. He recalled that during his five-day stay, the 264th Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church officiated open Masses in several provinces.

Later on, his successors Benedict XVI (March 2012) and Francis (September 2015) would also visit this Caribbean nation, he noted.