Before heading to the United States, Pope Francis will spend three days in Cuba, from September 19th to 22nd. ;
During his trip, the Pope will visit Havana, Holguin, the National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, and Santiago de Cuba. ;
The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba made the dates of the upcoming trip public in a brief statement.
Pope Francis will be the third pope to step foot on Cuban soil. Pope John Paul II visited the island in 1998, and he was followed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.
The Vatican confirmed last month that the Pope planned to visit Cuba ahead of his trip to the United States in September.
Cuban President Raúl Castro met with Pope Francis on Sunday and said he planned to attend the Masses that the Pope celebrates on the island. Castro offered more praise for the Holy Father, saying that he reads all of his speeches and was considering returning to the Catholic Church.
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