Cubans ready for Pope Francis’s visit but do not expect miracles

Havana.– Cubans feel especially warm to Pope Francis, who will visit the island for the first time as pontiff, for his fellow Latin American blood, humble image and help towards ending hostilities with the United States.

The Vatican said this week it hoped Pope Francis’s trip to Cuba would help bring an end to a 53-year-old U.S. embargo and lead to more freedom and human rights on the island.

However, Cubans expect little major change from the pope’s visit. Some even predicted some preventive repression like stopping dissidents from attending the papal Mass and recognized the pontiff "is well intentioned but he can’t achieve miracles here."

The pope will spend four days in Cuba before flying to the United States. He is visiting both countries after Vatican mediation that led to a restoration of ties between Washington and Havana last year.