Miami, Fla., Jan 14, 2012 / 16:42 pm
The Archdiocese of Miami is organizing a pilgrimage to Cuba for the visit of Pope Benedict XVI, Archbishop Thomas Wenski announced Jan. 12.
"We travel in solidarity with the Church in Cuba – and in response to their invitation to share with them this historic event," he said at a Jan. 12 press conference. "The Pope travels to Cuba as a pilgrim of charity. We go to Cuba in the same spirit."
The archbishop cited the Spanish-language theme of the visit, "A Jesus por Maria, la Caridad nos une," which means "To Jesus through Mary, love makes us one."
Pope Benedict's March 26-28 visit comes as the Catholic Church in Cuba celebrates the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the statue of Our Lady of Charity in waters off the coast of Cuba. Pope Benedict XV declared her the patroness of Cuba in 1916.