Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, Cuban Communist Party Central Committee Religious Affairs Office chief Caridad Diego, Deputy Foreign Minister Eumelio Caballero, the island"s ambassador to the Vatican Raul Roa Kouri, among other leaders, welcomed Wednesday the illustrious visitor at the Jose Marti International Airport.

Also included were Cardinal Jaime Ortega, the Apostolic Nuncio on the island Monsignor Luigi Bonazzi, and several Cuban bishops.

Bertone, also Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, is expected to meet with Cuban authorities and attend pastoral activities in Havana City, Santa Clara, Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo.

Cardenal Bertone"s stay takes place in the context of the 10th anniversary of the historic visit to Cuba of Pope John Paul II.

(PL)