Pope Francis to visit 4 sites in Cuba during September trip

Pope Francis meets Cuban President Raul Castro during a private audience at the Vatican, Sunday, May 10, 2015. Cuban President Raul Castro has been welcomed at the Vatican by Pope Francis, who played a key role in the breakthrough between Washington and Havana aimed at restoring U.S.-Cuban diplomatic ties. AP

HAVANA — The Catholic Bishops Conference of Cuba says Pope Francis will visit the cities of Havana, Holguin and Santiago, as well as the sanctuary of the Virgin of Charity of Cobre, during his Sept. 19-22 stopover on the island ahead of his trip to the United States.

The details of Francis’ trip were released a day after Cuban President Raul Castro visited the pontiff in the Vatican on Sunday.

Castro, the head of the officially atheist Cuban Communist Party, thanked Francis for his mediation of secret talks on detente between the U.S. and Cuba, and lightheartedly said that he was so impressed by Francis that he was considering returning to the church.

READ: Cuba leader thinking of returning to Church

Francis will be the third pope to visit Cuba.