Santiago de Cuba - President Raul Castro said goodbye today here to Pope Francis, who made an apostolic and pastoral four-day visit to Cuba and is heading today to the United States, to fulfill the second stage of his tenth trip abroad.

Cuban President met with Pope Francis at the Antonio Maceo International Airport in this city and they both went to one of the inner rooms and held a brief private meeting, according to the live broadcast on the Cuban television.

After 20 minutes President Raul Castro and Pope Francis went outdoors, where the latter was paid the honors as head of State of Vatican City.

Talking animatedly as they headed for the aircraft, Cuban President Raul Castro and Pope Francis shook hands, before entering the Alitalia plane, the pope waved to those who came to see him off.

Earlier, at the Church Cathedral Holy Metropolitan Basilica, Pope Francis thanked the Cuban people for making him feel like family during the days of his visit to the country.

Pope Francis will arrive this afternoon in the United States and according to the agenda, he will meet with President Barack Obama and will be the first Pope to address Congress, he will also speak at the high-level session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, in New York, on Friday.

Pope Francis will say a Mass on September 26 in Philadelphia, and a day after, before departing for Rome, he will participate in the World Meeting of Families.