Pope starts three-day visit in Cuba

The Pope, who flew in from Mexico, was welcomed to the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba by President Raul Castro.

The Pontiff said he had come as a pilgrim of charity, and would pray for peace, liberty and reconciliation.

He also expressed sympathy for the "just aspirations" of all Cuban people, wherever they were. Pope Benedict XVI said he holds great affection for Cubans on both sides of the Florida Straits and has heartfelt hopes for reconciliation.

Pope Benedict then celebrated Mass before an estimated crowd of some 200,000 in Santiago's Revolution Square.

He appealed to the audience to reinvigorate their faith "that you may strive to build a renewed and open society, a better society, one more worthy of humanity".

Before the mass, one man was arrested after shouting: "Down with communism". Others in the audience booed him for spoiling the atmosphere and shouted "Cuba, Cuba, Cuba".

President Castro was among those attending the service.

In his speech at the airport, President Castro said socialist Cuba allowed full freedom of religion and enjoyed good relations with the Catholic Church.

He said Cuba shared the Pope's concerns over global poverty, inequality and environmental destruction.

And he stressed that Cuba was determined to defend its independence in the face of the US embargo.

Meanwhile, the head of an opposition group said Cuban authorities have rounded up at least 150 dissidents in the past days to thwart any demonstrations during the historicvisit by Pope Benedict XVI.