The Vatican says Pope Francis will visit Cuba before flying on to the United States during his September visit.
The trip will include a visit to the White House, Congress and the United Nations.
The stop in Cuba could emphasise the role that the Vatican played in restoring diplomatic relations between Havana and Washington that have been stagnant for over 50 years.
Vatican spokesperson Father Frederico Lombardi did not say how long the stop in Cuba will be, saying only that the Holy Father had accepted invitations from the Cuban Roman Catholic Church and the government.
The Pope is due to arrive in the U.S.A on September 22nd and will visit New York and Philadelphia on his tour.
It will be his first visit to Cuba since his appointment two years ago, both of his predecessors made stops on the island.
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Article by Hannah Tooley
Hannah Tooley is a multimedia journalist for Premier.
