Vatican City, Sep 15, 2015 / 06:24 am (Aid to the Church in Need).- While Pope Francis is in Cuba next week chances are high that he will meet with former president Fidel Castro, though no specific time has been set, Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi has announced.

Anticipating questions on whether a meeting between the Pope and the former Cuban president would happen, Fr. Lombardi said that “in all likelihood it's very predictable that it will happen, clearly during the day in Havana.”

Vatican City, Sep 14, 2015 / 04:40 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In a new, wide-ranging interview Pope Francis touched on a variety of serious and lighthearted topics, such as the current refugee crisis, youth unemployment and how often the he goes to confession.

Aired for the first time Sept. 14, the interview was conducted by Vatican journalist Aura Miguel with Portugal-based Radio Renascença (Renaissance) Sept. 8. The questions were posed in Portuguese and the responses were given by Pope Francis in Spanish.

Vatican City, Sep 13, 2015 / 05:58 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The path Jesus takes as a humble servant isn’t easy, Pope Francis has said, explaining that to follow him doesn’t guarantee earthly success or honor, but rather true freedom and unity with God.

“Following Jesus means taking means taking up one's own cross to accompany him on his path, an uncomfortable path that is not one of success or earthly glory, but which leads to true freedom, the freedom from selfishness and sin,” the Pope said Sept. 13.

Vatican City, Sep 12, 2015 / 09:30 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis Saturday met with members of Italy's largest credit union, encouraging them to promote an economy that is rooted in honesty, and to promote a “globalization of solidarity.”

“Concern yourself with the relationship between economy and social justice, keeping the dignity and value of the person at the center,” the pontiff said to representatives of the Banca di Credito Cooperativo (BCC) of Rome.