INTRO: Pope John Paul and Cuban President Fidel Castro met for historic private meetings in Havana after the Pope celebrated mass in Santa Clara.

Pope John Paul entered the hallowed center of Cuba's communist regime on Thursday, (January 22) meeting President Fidel Castro for private talks at the Palace of the Revolution in central Havana.

Cuban President Fidel Castro greeted the 77-year-old Pontiff, who celebrated an open-air Mass in the central city of Santa Clara earlier in the day, and escorted him along the palace's corridors, chatting warmly.

A Cuban military honor guard, wearing crisp navy and cream ceremonial uniforms rather than the olive green military dress normally seen at such functions, saluted the Pontiff.

The two towering figures of the late 20th century were scheduled to talk for around 35 minutes.

Before beginning their conversation in a private room, the two men posed for photographs and shook hands with members of each other's staff. The Pope presented medals commemorating his pontificate to officials of Castro's government.

As at Havana airport, where Castro met the Pontiff on Thursday, the Cuban president was solicitous of the Pope's fragile health, reaching out a protective arm on several occasions and measuring his step to match his guest's slower gait.

The Pontiff is due to celebrate Masses in the central town of Camaguey on Friday, in the eastern city of Santiago on Saturday and in Havana's Revolution Square on Sunday.