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Benedict XVI to Officiate Public Mass in Havana

Havana, Mar 28 (Prensa Latina) Pope Benedict XVI will officiate a public mass in the Cuban capital at the open in the Jose Marti Revolution Square in the third day of his apostolic visit to the Caribbean island.

A massive attendance by believers and non-believers is expected, and the Revolution Square was prepared in honour to the Cuban National Hero Jose Marti.

A great altar is going over the conditions created for the activity. The ceremony will be accompanied by the image of the Virgin of La Caridad del Cobre, patron saint of Cuba, center of the visit because of the 400th anniversary of the finding of the image of the Virgin.

Benedict XVI officiated a mass to more than 200,000 people shortly after his arrival to Santiago de Cuba Monday, so this allows to predict that there will be a wide popular presence at the Jose Marti Revolution Square.

The Holy Father will return to Rome Wednesday afternoon.

He was received by Cuban President Raul Castro at the Revolution Palace and talked to religious authorities.

This is the second time Cuba receives a Holiness, since it was done with John Paul II in 1998.