Remembering Pope Francis when he visited Cuba and U.S. Here’s what happened (2025)

Pope Francis died at age 88 on Monday, April 21, a day after his last public appearance during Easter festivities. He became pope in 2013.

In 2015, the pope made his first trip to Cuba and the United States as part of his 10-day itinerary in which he traveled around both nations in recognition of the two countries renewing ties.

Here is a look at the coverage:

Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015 | Pope Francis joins hundreds of thousands for Mass

Pope Francis joined hundreds of thousands of the faithful Sunday for the last and biggest event of his joyful, six-day U.S. visit – a Mass on Philadelphia’s grandest boulevard. Read more

Analysis: Subtle style, powerful words marked pope’s trip to Cuba

Over and over during his trip to Cuba, Pope Francis talked about reconciliation, mercy and service, but Cuba watchers say there also was a political subtext to his pastoral remarks that Cubans accustomed to reading the tea leaves could detect. Read more

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015 | ‘Never be ashamed,’ pope tells immigrants in Philadelphia

Pope Francis asked the world’s religions Saturday to embrace peace and tolerance and told America’s immigrants to stay strong and “never be ashamed” of their traditions. Read more

At Philadelphia airport, pope blesses, kisses head of disabled boy

Pope Francis kissed the forehead of a boy with cerebral palsy after landing in Philadelphia, coaxing a small smile from the profoundly disabled 10-year-old. Read more

Saturday, Sept. 25, 2015 | Pope in New York slams ‘selfish’ thirst for power and wealth

Pope Francis endorses the Iran nuclear deal at U.N., but his focus remains the poor and vulnerable. Read more

Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015 | Pope calls for ‘renewal of spirit of cooperation’ before divided Congress

Pope Francis challenges a deeply divided Congress and a disquiet world to embark on a renewed spirit of cooperation. Read more

Don’t touch that pope, members of Congress told

You can look but you better not touch. Read more

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015 | Thousands greet Pope Francis at the White House

Thousands of people gathered in Washington early Wednesday morning to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis as he launched his first visit to the United States with an elaborate ceremony at the White House. Read more

Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015 | Pope shuns limo, rides in tiny Fiat

The pope’s ride was not what people were expecting. Read more

Pope Francis arrives in U.S., faces a polarized country

Pope Francis arrived Tuesday on the first visit of his life to the United States, bringing his “church of the poor” to the world’s wealthiest superpower and a country polarized over issues closest to his heart: immigration, social injustice and economic inequality. Read more

Pope Francis heads for US and a deeply divided Washington

Pope Francis arrives at a moment of bitter infighting across the country over gay rights, immigration, abortion and race relations. Read more

Miami archbishop deems Pope Francis’ ‘emotional’ trip to Cuba a success

On his way to Miami from Cuba, Archbishop Thomas Wenski reflected on the pope’s efforts to bring together Cubans and Americans — and Cubans and Cuban Americans. Read more

Before leaving Cuba, Pope Francis calls for service to others

In one of his most anticipated homilies, Pope Francis turned Tuesday to the Gospel of Mary, describing her “love and tenderness” during his Mass at the shrine of Our Lady of Charity hours before ending his four-day visit to the island. Read more

Pope’s new saint: Hispanic founding father or enabler of Indian deaths?

When Pope Francis canonizes 18th century missionary Junípero Serra as a saint Wednesday in Washington, he will give Hispanic-Americans a saint of their own – and put a halo on one of the most controversial figures in California’s Native American history. Read more

Monday, Sept. 21, 2015 | On Francis’ last, full day in Cuba, a message of change

On his last, full day in Cuba, Pope Francis celebrated Mass in Holguín, spoke of change. Cubans express joy, rekindled faith from papal visit. Read more

On Cuban TV, a dose of politics along with Pope Francis

Cuban television offered wall-to-wall coverage Saturday and Sunday of Francis’ visit to Havana. All praised the pontiff. But politics weren’t far behind. Read more

Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015 / Pope warns against ‘dynamic of exclusion’ in Cuban sermon

Even before dawn broke on Cuba’s iconic Plaza de La Revolución on Sunday, tens of thousands of the faithful had gathered to hear Pope Francis give his first sermon during a highly anticipated tour that will take him across the island and the United States. Read more

While Pope is in Cuba, South Floridians gather at St. Martha’s Catholic Church

Many South Floridians traveled with Pope Francis to Cuba. But for those who stayed behind, they gathered at St. Martha’s Catholic Church in Miami Shores, where the Archdioceses of Miami is based. Read more

Photo gallery: Pope Francis delivers Sunday Mass in Cuba

Pope Francis delivers Mass at Revolution Square in Havana Cuba. View the gallery

Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015 / Pope Francis arrives in Cuba; praises normalization with U.S.

Pope Francis has arrived in Havana, marking the beginning of a historic trip to Cuba at a time the island nation is restoring relations with the U.S. Read more

Friday, Sept. 18, 2015 / Obama takes ‘a sledgehammer’ to Cuba embargo

What’s commonly known as the trade embargo on Cuba is still on the books, as it has been for some five decades. But for businesses from around the United States — whether a cruise line in Miami or rice producers from Arkansas — the barriers to trade with the untapped market 90 miles from Florida are getting lower and lower. Read more

Cuba prepares for Saturday arrival of Pope Francis

When Pope Francis arrives in Cuba late Saturday afternoon he’ll find a country in transition that is forging a new relationship with the United States and undertaking economic change but not nearly fast enough to satisfy the needs and desires of most Cubans. Read more

Pope Francis will find pomp and politics in Washington

Pope Francis’ arrival in the United States next week will drive politicians and interest groups on each side of America’s political divide to claim him as one of their own. Read mor

This story was originally published April 21, 2025 at 6:24 AM.