Pope Francis and Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez. (Photo: vaticannews.va)

A Vatican statement said the talk lasted for 40 minutes and that in Mr. Diaz-Canel´s subsequent talks with Holy See diplomats the topic was the current situation in Cuba, with particular attention to the Cuban Church's charity activities.

President Díaz-Canel tweeted after his talks with the Pope that the two "referred to current Cuban reality, especially the impact of the economic embargo on people's lives", and "affirmed broadly consistent points on issues urgent to humanity".

This is the fourth meeting between President Díaz-Canel and Pope Francis since 2013, of which two were held at the Vatican and two in Havana.