Pope Francis wraps up his visit to Cuba on Tuesday and heads to the United States, figuratively connecting the two longtime Cold War adversaries who have reached detente with the help of his mediation.
The 78-year-old Argentine pope will celebrate Mass at the sanctuary of the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre, the country's holiest shrine and one also venerated by non-believers and practitioners of Afro-Cuban religions infused with varying degrees of Catholicism.
At El Cobre on Monday, Francis prayed for reconciliation among all Cubans, both at home and around the world.
The pope avoided making overt political statements in Cuba, as dissidents had hoped he would, but used his homilies to send messages laced in spirituality about the need for change in the one-party Communist country.