Francis Celebrates Mass In Havana's Revolution Square

By Scott Neuman / NPR

Published September 20, 2015 at 3:23 AM PDT

This story was published more than 9 years ago.

Pope Francis arrives for Mass at Revolution Plaza in Havana on Sunday, where he will celebrate Mass on the first full day of his visit to the island nation.

Faithful wait for the start of a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Revolution Square in Havana, Cuba, on Sunday.

Faithful wait for the arrival of Pope Francis for a Mass in Revolution Plaza in Havana, Cuba, Sunday.

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Pope Francis arrives for Mass at Revolution Plaza in Havana, Cuba, on Sunday.

Thousands of Cubans packed Havana's Revolution Square to celebrate Mass with Francis, history's first Latin American pope, erupting in cheers as the pontiff approached in his open-sided popemobile.

The Associated Press writes:

"Believers and non-believers alike streamed into the square before dawn to wait for Francis to arrive, and they erupted in cheers and when he made his first drive-through the crowd in his open-sided popemobile. They waved Cuban, Vatican and Argentine flags as a chorus sang a mix of traditional Cuban songs and religious tunes. "Francis stopped several times to kiss children handed up to him and to bless several wheelchair-bound Cubans. He seemed to want to prolong the time in the crowd, which was framed by the plaza's iconic metal portrait of Che Guevara and a huge poster of Christ facing the altar."