Media Advisory Media Credentials For Pope Benedict’s Apostolic Journey To Cuba

WASHINGTON—The Cuban government has announced that international media interested in covering Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Cuba, March 26-28, must request a journalist visa for that purpose through the consular services in their own country. U.S. media must do so through the Cuban Interests Section in Washington.

Application form to obtain the press credential and other technical information for media is available at www.cubaminrex.cuby downloading the document “Manual Operativo para la Prensa Extranjera.”

In Cuba, the press credential for the pope’s visit must be picked up at the International Media Center in Havana. If the journalist or media person intends to use Santiago as a port of entry, then he or she must specify so at the time of requesting the visa so that credentials can be sent to the media center that will be established in Santiago for the pope’s visit. Pope Benedict is due to arrive in Santiago de Cuba directly from Mexico in the afternoon of March 26. The visit to Mexico is March 23-26.

The Cuban Interests Section in Washington is located at 2630 16th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20009. Tel.: For questions please contact the press office at @emailor Mr. Juan Jacomino at 202-797-8518 Extension 104.

Also, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba has designated Orlando Márquez, of the Archdiocese of Havana, as press director for the papal visit. Questions can be directed to @email or by telephone at 011-53-7-862 4008, extensions 131 and 132. For questions related to the Santiago portion of the trip you may also contact Maria Caridad López at the Archdiocese of Santiago @email or by phone: 011-53-22 624090.

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KEYWORDS: Benedict XVI, Cuba, Mexico, Apostolic Journey, press credentials, Cuban Interest Section, Santiago

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