Pope wishes Castro good year

Pope John Paul has sent New Year's greetings to the Cuban President, Fidel Castro.

The message printed in a Havana newspaper , Granma, said that the Pope sent best wishes for what he called "peace and social progress in your noble country which I will shortly have the good fortune to visit." It's the third message from the Pope published by the newspaper since the Pope's visit to the island was announced.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service