Bucks Co. man travelling to Cuba to see Pope Francis

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- One Bucks County resident doesn't want to wait two weeks to see the pope... and he won't have to.

George Fernandez is about to travel to Cuba to see Pope Francis.

He explains, "I was able to put a group together and God willing we'll be with him next week."

Through the Catholic Association of Latino Leaders, Fernandez will be among 50 people who will be traveling to Havana Wednesday for the pope's visit there.

He is no stranger to popes. He was in Cuba for Pope John Paul II's visit there back in 1998 and when Pope Benedict was there in 2012.

And now the Cuban exile, whose family fled Cuba decades ago, plans to be there for Pope Francis.

George says, "Everybody wants to be near this holy man. He truly is infectious."

Fernandez says he had the honor to spend a week with Pope Francis during a Catholic summit meeting in Rome back in 2013. He says unlike the pope's visit to Philadelphia, which will be amidst a myriad of zones and restrictions, the pope's visit there will be more close and personal with the people of Cuba.

"They have very strong security in Cuba all the time, but you don't notice it. With the Holy Father in 1998 and in 2012, and I think in this way they are using the same model, it is going to be open to the masses," he said.

From there, Fernandez will travel to Washington DC where the pope will canonize Father Junipero Serra as a saint at the National Cathedral, and then finally for the pope's visit to Philadelphia.

Fernandez summarizes his whirlwind tour on the pope's travels this way: "It's truly a special honor and he's turned out to be a rock star."