Pope Francis leaves for CubaPope Francis waves to reporters at Fiumicino international airport as he boards his flight to Havan , Cuba , from Rome , Italy , 19 September 2015 . Pope Francis departed Rome starting a nine - day trip to Cuba and the United States that is his longest international foray since he was elected leader of the Catholic Church two and a half years ago . Francis is the third pope to tour Communist - ruled Cuba after John Paul II in 1998 and Benedict XVI in 2012 . He was scheduled to meet both former president Fidel Castro and his brother Raul , the current leader . EPA / TELENEWS ▶ [ 현장 영상 ] 개 의 , 개 에 의한 , 개 를 위한 영국 ' 강아지 패션쇼 '▶ [ 오늘 의 핫 화보 ] ' 벌 에 쏘이 면 가장 아픈 곳 은 ? 포유 류 소변 시간 은 ? '… 엉뚱 연구 수상식 < 저작권자 ( c ) 연합뉴스 , 무단 전재 - 재 배포 금지 >