Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel today expressed his condolences for the death of Pope Francis, the first bishop of Rome from a Latin American nation.

‘We deeply regret the passing of the unforgettable Pope Francis,’ the head of state said on the social network X.

‘The signs of affection and cordial closeness that he transmitted to our compatriots were always reciprocated by the Cubans,’ he added.

The Vatican said that on Monday, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father and highlighted his lifelong dedication to the service of the Lord and his Church.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Francis, from Argentina, was elected head of the Catholic Church in March 2013, after the resignation of Benedict XVI.

He suffered from respiratory problems and was hospitalised for more than a month before being discharged from the hospital on 23 March.

He died at the age of 88, shortly after his appearance in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for Easter Sunday.

From 19 to 22 September 2015, Pope Francis made an apostolic visit to Cuba, during which he spoke with the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro.

On 12 February 2016, he returned to Cuban soil on a stopover during his trip to Mexico, where he met with the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Kirill, the first meeting between the leaders of the two churches after the schism of Christianity in 1054.