Havana, December 17 (RHC)-- Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel on Sunday congratulated Pope Francis on his 87th birthday and wished him, on his behalf and on behalf of the people, good health.

Through his account on the social network X, the Antillean country's leader wished that the wisdom of the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church "continues to accompany us for many years to come.

His Holiness was born in Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital, on this day in 1936 into a family of Piedmontese immigrants; his father, Mario Bergoglio, was an accountant, and his mother, Regina Sivori, took care of the house and the education of their five children.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was archbishop in Buenos Aires and is credited with a critical stance during the economic crisis that hit his country in 2001.

At the age of 76, on March 13, 2013, the Argentine Jesuit became the first American pope, when he was proclaimed at the Vatican during the fifth round of voting, held on the second day of the conclave.

Francis succeeded Benedict XVI, who was proclaimed on April 19, 2005, until his resignation due to health problems on February 28, 2013.   (Source:Prensa Latina)