HAVANA -- Cuba's top Roman Catholic official said Monday that this week's trip by Pope John Paul II was a visit, not to the Cuban government, but ``to the Cuban Church and the Cuban people,'' who have experienced ``a religious reawakening.''

Cardinal Jaime Ortega, the archbishop of
Havana, spoke at a news conference just two days before the pontiff arrives for a first visit to the island.

Ortega told a crowd of journalists that ``this is not a state visit. Portraying it as a meeting between two men, both of whom are well known and charismatic, undermines the visit.''

``The only purpose of the pope's visit is the Cuban people,'' he said.

The cardinal complained that the church had not been given the media access it sought to explain the aim of John Paul's visit.

``I consider there has been a deficit in that regard,'' Ortega said. ``We would have liked more access [to official media], more time to announce the trip.''

Ortega said a major issue is what place the church will occupy after the pope leaves. He said he hoped it would be given ``open spaces'' to carry out its mission.

The bishop of Camaguey also went on television Monday to urge the faithful to attend the Mass the pope will say Friday morning in that city. Monsignor Adolfo Rodriguez said church officials have visited every house, town and village in the province to promote the papal visit.