Amid the celebrations and public speeches, the meeting Sunday between Pope Francis and Cuban President Raúl Castro seemed staid by comparison.
The two leaders met at the Palace of the Revolution, the seat of government in Havana, shortly after 4 p.m., each flanked by deputies and other dignitaries.
Standing in front of a dramatic stained glass portrait of the sun—the same backdrop used during Pope Benedict’s 2012 visit—Francis called forth the members of his delegation, which included Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino of Havana and former Cuban papal nuncio Giovanni Angelo Becciu.
Castro then introduced his smaller delegation, which included Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who is widely expected to replace him in 2018, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, who worked on the recent reconciliation with the United States, and Esteban Lazo, president of the Cuban parliament.
After the introductions, the pope and the president left for a one-on-one meeting, while the members of the delegation went into a nearby hall for a separate discussion.
Cuba's President Raul Castro escorts Pope Francis during the pope's arrival ceremony at the airport in Havana, Cuba, on Sept. 19, 2015.Ramon Espinosa—APPeople react after the arrival of Pope Francis outside the airport in Havana, on Sept. 19, 2015.Claudia Daut—ReutersPeople watch as Pope Francis is shown on television as he arrives in Havana, Cuba on Sept. 19, 2015 in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.Joe Raedle—Getty ImagesPeople disperse after Pope Francis' motorcade passed by in Havana, Cuba, on Sept. 19, 2015.Desmond Boylan—APPeople react as Pope Francis arrives at the airport in Havana, Sept. 19, 2015.Alexandre Meneghini—ReutersPeople wave to Pope Francis in his popemobile on his way from the airport to Havana, Cuba, on Sept. 19, 2015. Ismael Francisco—APPope Francis arrives for the first mass of his visit to Cuba in Havana's Revolution Square, Sept. 20, 2015.Tony Gentile—ReutersPeople attend Pope Francis' mass at Revolution Square in Havana, on September 20, 2015.Adalberto Roque—AFP/Getty ImagesPope Francis gives mass at Revolution Square in Havana, on Sept. 20, 2015.Rodrigo Arangua—AFP/Getty ImagesPope Francis and former President of Cuba Fidel Castro during their meeting at Castro's residence in Havana, on Sept. 20, 2015.Alex Castro—Cuba Debate/EPAPope Francis flashes a thumbs up to the choir after holding a Mass in the Plaza de la Revolution in Holguin, Cuba, on Sept. 21, 2015.Joe Raedle—Getty ImagesPope Francis is greeted by Cuba's President Raul Castro as he arrives to lead a mass for Catholic faithful in the city of Holguin, Cuba, on Sept. 21, 2015. Tony Gentile—Reuters
