Cuba Pardons Thousands of Prisoners Ahead of Pope Francis Visit

The Cuban government pardoned thousands of prisoners on Friday in a goodwill gesture before the arrival of Pope Francis on a visit to the communist country.

The government is to release 3,522 prisoners, the largest number freed since 1959 when former president Fidel Castro launched an armed revolution against the U.S.-backed government of then-president Fulgencio Batista. The timing of the prisoners' release was not revealed.

"On the occasion of the visit by His Holiness Pope Francis, the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba [the highest governmental body] ... agreed to pardon 3,522 prisoners, chosen due to the nature of the acts for which they were jailed, their behavior in prison, the time of punishment and health concerns," the government newspaper said, according to AFP news agency.

Pope Francis, 78, is to spend three days on his visit to Cuba and may meet with Castro if his health permits and will be decided at the last moment, three senior Vatican officials told Bloomberg.

The Catholic leader will also meet the current Cuban president and brother of Fidel, Raul Castro, at Havana's Palace of the Revolution on September 20. The pair previously met during Castro's visit to the Vatican in May to discuss the Cuban-U.S. relationship.

The pontiff helped to mediate the recent rapprochement between Havana and the U.S. and will visit Washington, New York and Philadelphia after his visit to the island, that takes place between September 19 and 22.

Source: Newsweek