The first question related to the Pope's opinion on the trade embargo against   
   Cuba, and whether he intends to refer to this theme in his address to the   
   United   
   States Congress.   
      
   "The question of the trade embargo is part of the negotiations", replied   
   Francis. "This is public: both presidents have referred to it. So, it is a   
   public matter, that leads in the direction of the good relations that are being   
   constructed. My hope is that an agreement satisfying both parties may be   
   reached. ... With regard to the position of the Holy See on the embargoes,   
   previous Popes have spoken not only about this case, but also on other cases of   
   embargoes. On this matter I refer to the social doctrine of the Church, which   
   is   
   precise and just. With regard to the United States Congress ... I am thinking   
   about what I would like to say in this respect; but not specifically on this   
   theme, but rather in general on the issue of bilateral and multilateral   
   agreements, as a sign of progress in co-existence. But this theme in a concrete   
   sense is not mentioned, I am almost sure of this".   
      
   "We have heard that more than fifty dissidents were arrested outside the   
   nunciature because they were trying to obtain a meeting with you. Would you   
   like   
   to meet the dissidents? And if such a meeting took place, what would you say to   
   them?"   
      
   "Firstly, I am not aware that this happened. ... Directly, I do not know. Your   
   two   
   questions concern the future. I would like this to happen. I like meeting all   
   people. First of all because I believe that all people are sons and daughters   
   of   
   God, and secondly, an encounter with any person is enriching. Yes, I would like   
   to meet them. If you would like me to continue to speak about the dissidents, I   
   have something very concrete to say. First of all, it was very clear that I   
   would not have given any audience, as I was asked for an audience not only with   
   the dissidents, but also with people from other sectors, including various   
   heads   
   of State. ... Audiences were planned neither with dissidents, nor with others.   
   Secondly, from the nunciature there were telephone calls with various people   
   who   
   form part of this group of dissidents. The task of the nuncio was to   
   communicate   
   to them that with pleasure, upon my arrival at the cathedral for the meeting   
   with consecrated persons, I would have greeted those who were there. A   
   greeting,   
   this is true. But given that nobody presented themselves for the greeting, I do   
   not know if they were there or not. I greeted all those who were there. Above   
   all I greeted the sick, those who were in wheelchairs. But nobody presented   
   him-   
   or herself as a dissident. From the nunciature calls were made to invite them   
   for a passing greeting".   
      
   The third question was on the suffering of the Cuban Catholic Church under   
   Fidel   
   Castro, and whether during his meeting with the Commander, the Pope thought he   
   had repented to any degree.   
      
   "Repentance is something very intimate, it is a matter of conscience", said the   
   Holy Father. "In the encounter with Fidel I spoke with him about the Jesuits he   
   knew, as one of the gifts I took was a book by Fr. Llorente, a close friend of   
   his and a Jesuit, and another by Fr. Pronzato which he will certainly   
   appreciate. We spoke about these things. We spoke at length about 'Laudato   
   si'',   
   as he is very interested in environmental issues. It was an informal and   
   spontaneous meeting. We spoke about the encyclical as he is very concerned   
   about   
   this matter, but we did not talk about the past".   
      
   "Given that the Pope has denounced the current economic system, some sectors of   
   American society have asked whether the Pope is communist and others, indeed,   
   whether he is Catholic. What does Francis think about this?"   
      
   "I am sure that I have not said anything that is not present in the social   
   Doctrine of the Church", responded the Holy Father. "On another flight a   
   journalist asked me if, when I went to speak to the Popular Movements, if the   
   Church was following me, and I answered that I follow the Church, as in this   
   way   
   I don't think I can make a mistake. I don't believe I have said anything that   
   is   
   not in the social Doctrine of the Church. These things can be explained.   
   Perhaps   
   an explanation gave the impression that I tended a little to the left, but it   
   would be an error of explanation. No. My doctrine, on all of this, on 'Laudato   
   si'', on economic imperialism and all of this, it is that of the social   
   doctrine   
   of the Church. And if it is necessary for me to recite the Creed, I am willing   
   to do so!"   
      
   Another journalist recalled that during his last apostolic trip to Latin   
   America   
   the Pope harshly criticised the liberal capitalist system while in Cuba his   
   criticism of the Communist system was less severe. "What is the reason for this   
   difference?"   
      
   "In the addresses I gave in Cuba, I always mentioned the social Doctrine of the   
   Church", explained Francis. "The things that need to be corrected I have   
   mentioned clearly. ... I have not said anything more than what I have written   
   in   
   the encyclical and in 'Evangelii Gaudium' on unfettered or liberal capitalism.   
   ...   
   But here in Cuba ... it has been a very pastoral trip, with the Catholic   
   community, with Christians, and also with those people of good will and so my   
   discourses have been homilies. ... Even with the young - whether or not they   
   were   
   young believers and, among the believers, of different religions - it was a   
   discourse of hope to encourage dialogue between them, to seek the things they   
   have in common and not those that divide them, to build bridges. ... It was a   
   more   
   pastoral language. Instead, in the encyclical it was necessary to tackle more   
   technical issues".   
      
   The penultimate question was whether or not the Catholic Church will assume any   
   role in encouraging openness to political freedom in Cuba, considering the role   
   the Holy See has already played in re-establishing relations between Cuba and   
   the United States.   
      
   "The Church in Cuba has drawn up a list of prisoners to be pardoned", revealed   
   the Pope. "Amnesty has been granted to 3,500 of them, according to the   
   president   
   of the Episcopal Conference. And there are still cases under consideration. And   
   the Church here in Cuba is working for further amnesty. For example, some   
   people   
   tell me it would be good to do away with life imprisonment. Speaking plainly,   
   life imprisonment is almost a form of hidden death sentence. I have said this   
   publicly in an address to European jurists. You stay there, dying every day   
   without hope of freedom. It is a hypothesis. Another hypothesis is that there   
   be   
   general amnesties every year or two. But the Church is working, has worked on   
   this. I am not saying that these three thousand were freed because of the   
   Church   
   lists, no. The Church has made a list, has officially requested amnesty, and   
   will continue to do so".   
      
   Finally, a reporter asked if the fact that three Popes have visited Cuba in   
   twenty years may be interpreted as indicating that the island is in some way   
   afflicted, inasmuch as a doctor visits a sick patient rather than a person in   
   good health.   
      
   "No, no", he replied. "The first was John Paul II, the first historic visit",   
   he   
   affirmed. "But it was normal - he visited many countries, including those that   
   were hostile towards the Church. The second was Pope Benedict XVI. ...   
   Initially   
   my idea was to enter the United States via Mexico, but to visit Mexico without   
   visiting Our Lady of Guadalupe would not have been good. Then, with the   
   announcement of 17 December last year, when the talks that had been taking   
   place   
   for almost a year were made public, I said that I would like to visit the   
   United   
   States via Cuba. And I chose to do so for this reason. But Cuba does not have   
   any particular affliction that other countries do not have".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
      
   Francis arrives in the United States of America   
      
   Vatican City, 23 September 2015 (VIS) - With his arrival, ten minutes earlier   
   than expected (3.49 p.m. local time, 9.50 p.m. in Rome) at the Andrews air base   
   in Washington D.C. yesterday, the Pope began the second part of his apostolic   
   trip. During his six days in the United States, he will meet with President   
   Barack Obama and the American episcopate, canonise Blessed Junipero Serra,   
   speak   
   before the United States Congress (the first Pontiff to do so), meet the   
   homeless in New York, address the United Nations, participate in an   
   interreligious meeting at Ground Zero and a meeting for religious freedom,   
   visit   
   prison detainees and celebrate mass at the World Meeting of Families.   
      
   Upon arrival in the United States, Francis was received by President Barack   
   Obama accompanied by the First Lady Michelle Obama, and their two daughters.   
   The   
   mayor of the District of Colombia and the governors of Maryland and Virginia   
   were also present, along with the apostolic nuncio in the United States,   
   Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, and the archbishop of Washington, Cardinal   
   Donald   
   Wuerl.   
      
   The Pope and the President, with the First Lady, spoke privately for a few   
   minutes in the airport. Following their conversation the Pope transferred by   
   car   
   to the apostolic nunciature in Washington D.C., where he spent the night.   
      
   At 9.15 a.m. local time (3.15 p.m. in Rome) the welcome ceremony will be held   
   in   
   the White House, and in the grounds the Holy Father will pronounce his first   
   discourse in the United States. He will then meet in private with President   
   Obama, after which he will meet the bishops in the Cathedral of St. Matthew the   
   Apostle. He will later celebrate Mass for the canonisation of Blessed Junipero   
   Serra in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Francis will   
   conclude   
   his day with a visit to the John Paul II Seminary.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
      
   Other Pontifical Acts   
      
   Vatican City, 23 September 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has accepted the   
   resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Ponta de Pedras, Brazil,   
   presented by Bishop Alessio Saccardo, S.J., upon reaching the age limit. He is   
   succeeded by Bishop Teodoro Mendes Tavares, C.S.Sp., coadjutor of the same   
   diocese.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
   For more information and to search for documents refer to the site:   
   www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va   
      
   Copyright (VIS):  the news contained in the services of the Vatican   
   Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting   
   the source:  V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service.   
   http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html   
      
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    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)