On Havana's famed Malacorn a good fisherman needs patience, hope and a bit of luck. Cubans across the island know the feeling.
“How do you feel about Pope Francis here today,” I asked one family
"I feel happy," said the father.
This family in old Havana relies on Pope Francis as their spiritual leader.
"He's a very important person in the world."
They hope new diplomatic relations and economic ties between Cuba and the U.S., forged with the help of Pope Francis, means better days ahead.
There are two sides to the Cuban capital. One is the stunning side of old Havana bathed in the Caribbean sun, and there is downtrodden Havana decayed by cold war fights, hurt by the U.S. embargo slapped on the Castro's communist government.
"I'm sorry to see how many people are living very poor," said Eileen Harris, visiting here with a group from the Archdiocese of Miami. Her Cuban friend earns the equal of about $50 a month. Harris does not think twice about speaking her mind.
"They can use an economic and spiritual rebirth. There is a trend of more openess but until the Castro brothers are not here I can't see anyting really important happening," she said.
The world waits to see if Pope Francis will lecture Raul Castro about human rights and jailed dissidents on the island. But any talk of changing the government is virtually off limits in every day conversation for Cubans here.
"I believe not really a change in government will solve the problem but the pasing of time," one Cuban told me.
So the people of Cuba wait to see what message Pope Francis will bring them over the next four days.
