February 12, 2016 at 4:24 a.m.
| Updated February 12, 2016 at 4:24 a.m.
by
Associated Press
Pope Francis boards an airplane at Rome's Fiumicino airport on his way to a week-long trip to Mexico, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The pontiff is scheduled to stop in Cuba for an historical meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill that the Vatican sees as a historic step in the path toward healing the 1,000-year schism that split Christianity. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
ROME (AP) - Pope Francis has begun a seven-day trip that will take him first to Havana, Cuba, then to Mexico.
The Alitalia jet carrying Francis and his entourage departed Friday morning from Rome's airport. First stop is Havana's airport, where Francis will meet for a few hours with the head of the Russian Orthodox church, Patriarch Kirill, in a ground-breaking step toward improving Catholic-Orthodox relations.
Francis will then visit Mexico, returning to Rome on Feb. 18.
