Havana, May 12 (RHC) –- The first working meeting between representatives of the Holy See, the Catholic Church in Cuba and local government authorities was held on Monday afternoon at the Ministry of Foreign Relations, as part of preparations for the pastoral visit of Pope Francis to Cuba in September, according to the website of the Cuban Foreign Ministry.

The meeting was headed by First Deputy Foreign Minister Marcelino Medina and Caridad Diego, head of the Office, on the government side. Heading the delegation of the Holy See was Dr. Alberto Gasbarri, Head of the Organization of Papal Trips, Dr. Paolo Corvini, of the Protocol Office of the Vatican Secretariat of State, and Monsignor Većeslav Tumir, Charge d'Affaires in Havana.

Cardinal Jaime Ortega, Archbishop of Havana, and Monsignor Dionisio Garcia, Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba and President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops, among other Cuban bishops, represented the Catholic Church in Cuba.

Cuban authorities expressed the government's full willingness to provide all necessary support for the success of the visit by Pope Francis to the island.