Pope Francis said the death of Fidel Castro was “sad news”, and that he was grieving and praying for his repose.
In a message in Spanish to Cuban President Raul Castro, Pope Francis said: “I express to you my sentiments of grief.”
Pope Francis met Fidel Castro during a visit to Cuba in September 2015.
Fidel Castro was a self-professed atheist but as a child he attended Catholic schools in Santiago before going on to the Jesuit-run El Colegio de Belen in Havana.
The former Cuban president and leader of communist revolution died on November 25 at the age of 90.
Fidel Castro’s death was announced last night by his brother, Raul.
