(ANS - Havana) - The Pope is scheduled to arrive in Cuba next Saturday 19 September. The young people of Cuba have a number of initiatives as they await his arrival. Accompanied by the Youth Ministry Team of the Archdiocese of Havana, the young people say they expect the Pope "to encourage young Catholics to put our hopes in Christ." Estudio Vandor, the Salesian communication team, has produced several videos showing how young Cubans are preparing for the meeting.

The "Mission in the parks of Havana" is the title that the archdiocese has given to a nine-day mission led by young people. Their motto is "Young people, witnesses of mercy". It is similar to a previous experience on the occasion of the visit of Pope Benedict XVI. Now they are back sending young people into the streets to announce the visit of Pope Francis.

Alejandro Morales Satorre has described for ANS how he spent the evening of September 14 - the fourth day of the mission in the parks – in the Plaza Roja in the the Víbora district. The young people showed local residents and young people a video in which the Pope, with his traditional Argentine accent, urges the young people not to view life from the side lines, but to play an active part. Then they prayed for Cuba, its families, young people, the elderly and the sick.  The climax was the Lord's Prayer, recited by all present, hand in hand.

A video has been published by the Estudio Vandor on this special moment in Plaza Roja.

Caruchy Castellanos describes the fifth evening of Mission on 15 September: "Not even the rain could stop the young people of the Archdiocese of Havana. Even children joined the celebration, under a tropical downpour that got heavier with each passing hour. We were welcomed by the neighbours of the 'White House' near the colossal sculpture of Jesus of Nazareth, known as the Christ of Havana, a symbol of the city."

The programme included mimes, songs, videos and prayers, inviting all to join the Holy Father on his forthcoming visit to Cuba: it is a simple way to proclaim the Good News and to bring the message of Jesus to every street corner of Havana.

A video “El Cristo de La Habana bendice a los jóvenes bajo la lluvia”, also by Estudio Vandor, covers the fifth night of the mission.

Further information about the campaign "Mission in the parks of Havana" is available on the website of the Salesians of Cuba.

Published 17/09/2015