MIAMI – The Virgin of Charity, a sacred icon of devotion and spirituality for Cubans, was celebrated Tuesday in Coconut Grove.
"For us, it's almost like a celebration of Cuba," one worshiper said.
Tuesday's procession consisted of a replica of the original statue, brought to Miami in 1961.
"I'm very devoted to her, and that's why we're here," Maria Fernandez said.
Fernandez and her father, Jose, migrated to Miami in 1963.
"She's our patron saint, who I have been devoted to since I was born," Jose Fernandez said.
"We always believe that she's the one that keeps them alive and brings them into this country of freedom," Maria Fernandez said while talking about Cuban migrants who cross the Florida Straits to come to the U.S.
"It's emotional and it's important to us," she said.
For many in the exile community, the saint also symbolizes a free Cuba.
Cachita, as she is affectionately known, is a national symbol for Cubans in the U.S. and on the island. The original statue remains in Cuba in a town called El Cobre.
For the first time in decades, state-run television in Cuba showed the mass celebrating Our Lady of Charity live on TV.
"They've been deprived of that for a long time, so it's about time they allow them," Maria Fernandez said.
Jose Fernandez said he hopes that Cuba returns to the way it used to be.
"I just think it's an advancement for the Catholicism in Cuba," Maria Fernandez said.
Pope Francis drew a huge crowd outside an optician's office in Rome on Sept. 3. He insisted on traveling to the shop contrary to the normal procedure of the optician delivering glasses to the Vatican. Take a look at other reasons that make Pope Francis cool.The new pope first broke historic ground by choosing the name Francis, as this is the first time the name is being used by a pope. Pope Francis chose his name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi because he was a lover of the poor.Known as the "People's Pope," Pope Francis is known for his simple lifestyle, humble persona and breaks with tradition. He refused to move into papal palace and frequently takes public transportation.Pope Francis likes to mix and mingle with the crowds and is adamant about the church going out among the masses. During a trip to Brazil, a frantic crowd of Catholics repeatedly surrounded and halted the vehicles he was riding in as he reached out and greeted followers.He tweets a lot and now has over 10 million Twitter followers, a milestone in the Vatican's drive to spread the gospel through social media.Pope Francis revealed to church-goers that he once was a bouncer at a nightclub in his native Argentina.Pope Francis is a huge soccer fan, particularly of the San Lorenzo soccer club, one of Argentina's top clubs.In April 2015, Pope Francis took two lucky 11-year-olds on a spin through St. Peter's Square on his Popemobile. Italian fifth-graders Livio Bastianelli and Davide Maria Bianchi excitedly hopped aboard when the Pope offered and later told The Associated Press, "That never happens!"Pope Francis graced the cover of Rolling Stone in Jan. 2014 to accompany a 7,700-word profile by contributing editor Mark Binelli, who went inside the Vatican to report on Francis' swift break from tradition.Pope Francis' Harley-Davidson motorcycle was auctioned off for $327,000 in February 2014. The money will go to a soup kitchen that serves the homeless in Rome. A retired Harley-Davidson designer had given the bike to the pope.Pope Francis marked his 77th birthday on Dec. 17, 2013, by hosting four homeless men to a Mass and a meal at the Vatican, according to Catholic officials.A December 2013 interview raised speculation that Pope Francis may be sneaking out of the Vatican at night to give money to the homeless. A source told The Huffington Post that "Swiss guards confirmed that the pope has ventured out at night, dressed as a regular priest, to meet with homeless men and women."In December 2013, two Boston College students studying in Rome held out a white zucchetto -- or skullcap -- to give to Pope Francis as he passed by. The pope stopped, took the skullcap, nodded and smiled, put it on and then gave the skullcap he had been wearing to the students, according to the Boston Globe.In October 2013, a little boy joined Pope Francis on stage while he was delivering a speech in St. Peter's Square. The pope was relaxed about it and even let the child sit in his big white chair at one point.To learn more about Pope Francis, click here.
Pope Francis drew a huge crowd outside an optician's office in Rome on Sept. 3. He insisted on traveling to the shop contrary to the normal procedure of the optician delivering glasses to the Vatican. Take a look at other reasons that make Pope Francis cool.
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