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17:30.-The flight carrying Pope Francis to Mexico has departed.
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16:51.- Pope Francis bids farewell to Cuba, after thanking the country’s people and President.
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16:50.-Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill have shared an embrace which has been delayed for a thousand years, and it has taken place in Cuba, the capital of unity, as the Pontiff said.
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16:50.-The two leaders agreed to work together to promote respect for human life throughout the world, and to strengthen family and personal values.
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16:40.-“I do not want to leave without recognizing Cuba, the great Cuban people, and their President, here present. I am grateful for his active participation. If things continue this way, Cuba will be the capital of unity,” the Pope added.
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16:38.-Words from Pope Francis: We spoke as brothers, we were baptized the same way; we are bishops.
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16:37.-His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: For two hours we have held an open discussion with full understanding of our churches’ responsibility, for our believing people, for the future of Christianity and the future of human civilization.
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16:36.-President Raúl Castro joined the religious leaders for the signing of the joint declaration.
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16:35.- Patriarch Kirill says the discussion provided the opportunity to understand each other’s positions. Our two churches can cooperate to defend Christians around the world, he said.
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16:30.-The private meeting has ended. Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill sign the joint statement.
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16:22.- The document which the two leaders will sign is to be released in Russian and Italian. When their meeting is concluded, the two religious leaders will make statements and attend a gift-exchange ceremony with the two delegations.
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16:20.- Metropolita Hilarión indicated earlier that the issues to be discussed during the private meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill, now underway, include “the current situation in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Africa, and other regions where extremists are carrying out a veritable genocide of Christians, which requires urgent cooperative measures between the Churches.”
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16:15.-The journalist Paloma Gª Ovejero, COPE correspondent in Italy and the Vatican, is traveling with Pope Francis. She wrote on her Twitter account that when the Pope embraced the Patriarch, the first word he spoke was, “Finally,” adding, “It is clear that this is the will of God.”
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15:40.-The Pope’s message reads: Today is a day of grace. This encounter with Patriarch Kirill is a gift from God. Pray for us.
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15:40.-The hashtag #CubaesPaz is gaining presence on social media.
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15:30.- Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia was born November, 20, 1946 in Leningrad, and assumed his current role in 2009. He is known for his work among Orthodox churches in different countries and is developing dialogue with the Catholic Church.15:25.- In 1998, he became Archbishop of Buenos Aires.
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15:25.- In 1998, he became Archbishop of Buenos Aires.
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15:20.-Jorge Mario Bergoglio, elected Pontiff on March 13, 2013, was born in Buenos Aires in 1936. After studying chemistry he decided to join the priesthood.
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15:00.- Earlier this afternoon, Cuban President Raúl Castro and His Holiness Kirill exchanged gifts in the Palace of the Revolution.
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14:57.-After the meeting Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia will sign a joint declaration, important to peace throughout the world
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14:30.-Patriarch Kirill tells his Holiness Francis that they will converse heart to heart.
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14:26.-At this moment, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill are holding the long-awaited meeting, which is expected to last about two hours.
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14:10.-President Raúl Castro, accompanied by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla received Pope Francis on the tarmac at José Martí International Airport. Also joining the welcome was Cardinal of Havana, Jaime Ortega.
