Pope Francis on Friday left Rome bound for Cuba, where he is to hold a historic meeting Russian Patriarch Kirill before heading to Mexico for a five-day visit.
Vatican Radio cited Holy See press office director Federico Lombardi as saying Francis had a “beautiful meeting” with the 76 journalists travelling with him including 10 Mexican reporters and called the journey "very important".
Valentina Alazraki of Mexico’s 'Televisa', gave Francis a sombrero to celebrate his journey to her native country. Alazraki also gave him some films starring the Mexican comedian Cantinflas earlier in the week to help him prepare for his trip, which Francis said were a “good laugh,” Vatican Radio reported.
“My deepest desire is to pause before Our Lady of Guadalupe, this mystery that is studied, and studied, and studied, and there is no human explanation,” Pope Francis told journalists, referring to Mexico's patron saint. Even scientists say the image is "a thing of God," he added.
Asked about press reports of a papal visit to Colombia, Pope Francis said he could visit the country in 2017 if peace talks between the government and left-wing rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) continue to go forward.
The meeting between Francis and Kirill is set to be the first encounter of the leaders of the two largest Christian churches since they split nearly 1,000 years ago, mainly due to issues of papal authority.
After signing a joint declaration with Kirill, Francis will then fly on to Mexico on a trip that will take him to the country's southern and northern borders and other areas ravaged by drugs-related violence.
Pope said he wanted the trip "to bring hope" to Mexicans in a telegram on Friday to Italy's president Sergio Mattarella. Millions are expected to turn out to see Francis during his visit to the central American country.
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