VATICAN CITY, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Pope John Paul will visit four cities in Cuba in January, the Vatican said on Thursday in its first official announcement of the historic trip.
Details of the visit have already been released by the Roman Catholic Church in Cuba.
The Vatican announcement, in the form of an advisory to reporters, said the 77-year-old Pontiff will arrive in Havana on January 21. He will visit Santa Clara on January 22, Camaguey on January 23 and Santiago on January 24.
He will leave Havana on January 25 and arrive in Rome the following morning.
Veteran Cuban communist leader Fidel Castro is expected to attend a Papal mass during the trip, the Vatican's television production centre said last week.
Castro, who first met the Pope last year in Rome, is expected to greet the Pontiff on his arrival at Havana and will hold private talks with the Roman Catholic leader.
Cuba is the only Spanish-speaking country in Latin America the Pope has not visited. The trip is regarded as one of the most important of his 19-year papacy.
11:58 11-20-97