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The Latest: Crowd gathers for Francis' first papal Mass in Havana's Revolution Square

Associated Press
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    Faithful wait for the start of a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Revolution Square in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. Pope Francis opens his first full day in Cuba on Sunday with what normally would be the culminating highlight of a papal visit: Mass before hundreds of thousands of people in Havana's evocative Revolution Plaza. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (The Associated Press)

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    Faithful wait the arrival of Pope Francis for Mass in Revolution Plaza in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. Pope Francis opens his first full day in Cuba on Sunday with what normally would be the culminating highlight of a papal visit: Mass before hundreds of thousands of people in Havana's Revolution Plaza. The signs in Spanish read: "The truth will set us free," left, and "Long live Christ the king." (AP Photo/Enric Marti) (The Associated Press)

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    Faithful wait for the arrival of Pope Francis for Mass in Revolution Plaza in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. Pope Francis opens his first full day in Cuba on Sunday with what normally would be the culminating highlight of a papal visit: Mass before hundreds of thousands of people in Havana's Revolution Plaza. The sign in Spanish reads: "Long live Christ the king." (AP Photo/Enric Marti) (The Associated Press)

HAVANA – The latest developments in Pope Francis' visit to Cuba and the United States. All times local:

8:15 a.m.

The sun has risen over Havana's Revolution Plaza and already thousands of people have filled the square ahead of Pope Francis' first Mass in Cuba.

Believers and non-believers alike have streamed into the square, waiting for Francis to arrive by popemobile. The square's iconic metal portrait of Che Guevara competes with a huge poster of Christ facing the altar where Francis will celebrate Mass.

Cubans know that Francis helped spur the United States and Cuba to their historic rapprochement, and they are coming out in droves to see history's first Latin American pope.

Jose Rafael Velazquez is a 54-year-old worker who came to the plaza with his wife three hours before Mass was due to begin. He says he's not religious, but is coming more to witness a historic event.

He says: "We also are very hopeful for this visit, because the pope was key in the deal with the United States, and ever since the announcement, there have been changes and this visit gives me more hope that it'll get better."