Pope's visit to Cuba not a prelude to change

A high-ranking Cuban official warns that Cuba will not undergo rapid political change after the Pope's visit to the island.

The president of the Cuban parliament, Ricardo Alarcon, said in a newspaper interview that the Pope's trip scheduled for the end of next month couldn't be seen as an act of support for the Cuban Revolution.

He said that it was proof that -- despite the United States efforts to isolate the island -- Cuba had diplomatic relations with other countries.

Mr Alarcon was echoing what Cardinal Jaime Ortega told a mass for young people.

The Cardinal said on Saturday that they shouldn't expect political or economic results from the visit

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service