Miami Archdiocese Makes Papal Preparations for Cuba Visit

The Archdiocese of Miami is making Papal preparations. Pope Francis' trip to Cuba and the USA is a little more than a week away and many are getting ready for it.

Dozens of Cuban-Americans and other pilgrims will be leaving Miami next week to see Pope Francis in Cuba. Archbishop Thomas Wenski will be joining them, and he's now making preparations for a visit that could lead to change on the island nation.

"Cuba is a country that has a history of faith, the Catholic faith, for almost 500 years," said Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski.

Pope Francis, a revolutionary in his own right to some, comes to Cuba next week. "He is from Argentina, so he will be speaking in his native tongue," Wenski said. "Now he'll be in his own element, so to speak, so I guess we have to let him loose and listen to what he has to say."

In a meeting before the visit in Miami Shores, officials with the Archdiocese said nearly 200 pilgrims, mostly from South Florida, would head to Cuba for the visit.