This Hemisphere News Today

Last minute here in revolutionary square. but in a few minutes time, the pope will land at the international airport and will go down one of the main roads into havana. we expect lots of people by the side of those roads cheering him on. this pope, of course, the first latin pope, the first pope from this hemisphere, but also the first pope whos played the biggest role in improving u.s./cuban relations. so it seems like a bit of a victory lap. but the pope is not the kind of person to rest on hi...

United states. >> thats right. and cuba has had papal visits before. but as our patrick altman explains, this one is special for many reasons. >> reporter: we are in havanas cathedral square, and this is going to be one of the places pope francis visits on his first stop to cuba and the united states. as you can see, lets walk over here towards the cathedral. theyre getting everything ready at a furious pace. still lots of work be being done here. streets being fixed up. builds being painted. th...

And the united states, and he hopes in cuba, he stops there and hopes while there he will certainly be inspiring many. and the city of havana is busy making all the necessary preparations. cnns patrick oppmann is there. >> were in havanas cathedral square. this is u.n. of the places that pope francis visits on his first stop of his trip to cuba and the united states. and as you can see, lets walk here toward the cathedral. theyre getting everything ready at a furious pace. lots of work being don...

Cathedral square. this is one of the first palaces the pope will visit. theyre getting everything ready at a furious pace. still lots of work being done, though. streets being fixed up. buildings being painted across the country. this is a big deal for cubans. you can see theyre still repairing a lot of the facade of this centuries old cathedral. this is the first pope from this hemisphere, first latin american pope. first pope, even though two other popes have come here previously, first pope w...

And the united states. they are getting everything ready at a furious pace. still lots of things being done. this is a big deal for cubans. you can see they are repairing the facade of this centurys old cathedral. why is it so important? this is the first pope from this hemisphere, latin american pope and he will be able to address cubans in native spanish. he improved a key role in improving relations between the united states and cuba, urging the presidents to make the deal that really ended 5...

Health, leading up to that election. however, his broadcast last night, confirmed the suspicions of many, that his cancer had returned. speaking to a national audience, chavez admitted, if his health deteriorates further, his successor, vice-presidentma meduro would take over. hes he gave details about tests that indicated malignant cells in the same areas where previous tumors had been removed and he would undergo surgery in cuba in the coming days am since he took over in venezuela, his countr...

So a lot of the trip is supposed to be about trying to strengthen economic ties. theyre good, not great. >> the president has to keep such a close focus on things happening in paris right now. do we understand how he is being briefed in terms of frequency or who does the briefing for him? >> well, you both chief of saf staff and -- are traveling with the president -- are both at the white house. their coordinating the updates from pars and then briefing and the president. thats how they are doin...