Hugo Chavez received the Pope’s blessing

 

Cuba, March 28, 2012

 

In a brief meeting, Hugo Chavez met with Pope Benedict XVI, who blessed him in his fight against cancer and gave him a blessed rosary. Today, His Holiness bids farewell to Cuba.

Venezuela’s president had announced that he would not “hinder the visit” the highest pontiff to the island, but expressed his willingness to “greet the Pope.”

So there was a meeting of 5 minutes that maximum pontiff shared with Fidel and Raul Castro and the Bolivarian leader.

As explained by Venezuelan journalist Nelson Bocaranda “The meeting lasted no more than 5 minutes, being present only the brothers Fidel and Raul Castro, His Holiness and President Chavez, who received the papal wishes for his speedy recovery. The Holy Father gave him a rosary blessed the sick Barinas. I do not know whether Chavez gave him a gift too”.

Today, Benedict XVI will lead a mass at the Revolution Square in Havana and then leave the island.