President Raul Castro welcomed today at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Kirill, who will make a courtesy visit.
During this meeting, the head of State and the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia will hold official talks.
Before this meeting, the Primate of the second largest Christian Church in the world laid a wreath to Cuba's National Hero, Jose Marti (1853-1895), at the Revolution Square, named after the hero, and toured the facilities of the place.
The Primate arrived in Havana yesterday for an official visit, which will last on Sunday, as part of which he will carry out several activities, including a meeting today with Pope Francis, who will made a stopover in Cuba during his trip to Mexico.
Kirill, enthroned as patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2009; and Pope Francis, first Bishop of Rome born in Latin America, will meet in the protocol hall at the "Jose Marti" International Airport.
According to a statement of the Patriarchate of Moscow, the religious leaders will discuss for three hours about the relations between the two churches, the international context, and the defense of Christians in the Middle East and North Africa in view of the persecution and genocide.
At the air terminal, where he was received yesterday by the Cuban leader, the Patriarch wished welfare and happiness to the Cubans,and recalled the historic ties between the Caribbean nation with Russia.