Later, he prayed for "those deprived of freedom" while in Cuba's southeastern city of Santiago de Cuba.

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The pope, who is on a six-day tour of Mexico and Cuba, is expected to visit Santiago de Cuba and Havana next week.

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Havana, Cuba (CNN) -- Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Cuba's southeastern city of Santiago de Cuba on Monday, delivering Mass before throngs of Cubans in only the second papal visit in the island's history.

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Born in Santiago de Cuba, the son of a soldier, he left Cuba in 1960 and in 1961 took part in the disastrous attempt by American-backed Cuban exiles to invade the island at the Bay of Pigs.

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Benedict, 84, arrived in Cuba's southeastern city of Santiago de Cuba on Monday, later heading to the city's Basilica del Cobre where he prayed in front of the Virgin of Charity of Cobre, a wooden statue considered to be the shrine of the island's patron saint.

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Finally, Leal indicated that the Office of the City Historian and the National Cultural Heritage Council are willing to support recovery works in the historical centre of Santiago de Cuba, one of the most seriously affected areas, and to send restorers and other highly qualified personnel to help repair museum pieces damaged by the natural disaster.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES