Pope Francis met with Fidel Castro on Sunday after urging thousands of Cubans to serve one another and not an ideology, delivering a subtle jab at the communist system during a Mass celebrated under the gaze of an image of Che Guevara in Havana's iconic Revolution Plaza.

The Vatican described the 40-minute meeting at Castro's residence as informal and familial, with an exchange of books and discussion about big issues facing humanity, including Francis' recent encyclical on the environment and the global economic system.

Unlike the 2012 visit of Benedict XVI, when Castro peppered the German theologian with questions, the meeting with Francis was more of a conversation, papal spokesman the Rev. Frederico Lombardi said.

A photo provided by Alex Castro, Fidel's son and official photographer, showed the 89-year-old former president and Francis looking into each other's eye as they shook hands, the pope in his white vestments and Castro in a white button-down shirt and Adidas sweat top. Castro appeared to be gripping another, unidentified man for support.

As a Jesuit pope with a Franciscan name, Francis preaches a life of simplicity and detachment to luxury. Castro has been criticized in South Florida for fomenting equality in poverty, while owning exquisite wines and sparing no expense when it comes to his security.

The island's communist government never outlawed religion, per se. But it came close, closing religious schools after Fidel Castro came to power in 1959, expelling priests and sending others to prison or work camps, including the current archbishop of Havana, Cardinal Jaime Ortega.

Castro began easing prohibitions on faith in the 1990s, removing constitutionally enshrined atheism ahead of a visit by Pope John Paul II and reinstating Christmas as a public holiday soon after.

The Catholic Church today has quietly established itself as practically the only independent institution with any widespread influence on the island. Expanding into areas once utterly dominated by the state, the church is providing tens of thousands of people with food, education, business training and even libraries stocked with foreign best-sellers.

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Cuban Catholics welcome Pope Francis to Havana Cathedral

But it still is seeking more freedom to spread the faith: Church authorities have long wanted to run full-time private schools and get religious programming on state-run airwaves, both of which the government has resisted

Many Cubans are increasingly concerned about a growing inequality in the communist island, in which those with relatives who are sending U.S. dollars or Euros live lives of relative luxury, while others can barely feed themselves.

"This is very important for us," said Mauren Gomez, 40, who traveled about 155 miles from Villa Clara to Havana by bus, spending her time reciting the Rosary.

SUNDAY CATHOLIC MASS

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami's Archbishop Thomas Wenski assisted the pope during the historic Sunday morning mass in Havana.

In his homily, delivered under the gaze of the plaza's iconic metal portrait of atheist revolutionary "El Che" Guevara, the pope urged Cubans to care for one another out of a sense of service, not ideology.

"Whoever wishes to be great must serve others, not be served by others," he said, explaining that, "Service is never ideological, for we do not serve ideas, we serve people."

He exhorted Christians to "to learn to see Jesus in every person bent low on the path of life, in all our brothers and sisters who hunger or thirst, who are naked or in prison or sick."

Maria Regla González, a 57-year-old teacher, said she appreciated Francis' message of reconciliation and unity for all Cubans, and said Francis was particularly able to convey it given he is Latin American and speaks their language.

"This is a crucial moment, and the pope's support for us is very important," she said. "He made a call for unity, and that's what we want."

BUSY ITINERARY

The morning Mass kicked off a busy series of events for the pope, including a formal meeting with President Raul Castro. Francis will finish with an evening vespers service in the San Cristobal cathedral and meet with Cuban young people. He will be in Holguin and Santiago de Cuba Monday.

Upon his arrival, the pope plunged head-first into the rapprochement, urging the Cuban and U.S. governments to push forward on their newly forged path and "develop all its possibilities."

Francis wrote a personal appeal to Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro and hosted their delegations at a secret meeting at the Vatican last year to seal a deal after 18 months of closed-door negotiations.

Since then, the two leaders have reopened embassies, held a personal meeting and at least two phone calls and launched a process aimed at normalizing ties in fields ranging from trade to tourism to telecommunications.

The Vatican has long opposed the U.S. trade embargo on the grounds that it hurts ordinary Cubans most, and is clearly hopeful that detente will eventually lead to a lifting of sanctions. But only the U.S. Congress can remove the embargo.

The pope will visit Congress next week at the start of the U.S. leg of his trip, but it's not known if he will raise the issue there.

The Associated Press reporters Nicole Winfield, Michael Weissenstein, E. Eduardo Castillo and Anne-Marie Garcia in Havana and Christine Armario and Andrea Rodriguez worked on this report.

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Behind the scenes: Local 10 News in Cuba

Nathan Hale gives his life for America, Jack Dempsey loses the "Long Count" match, President Ford survives an assassination attempt, Farm Aid begins, and "Friends" premieres, all on this day.

Tuesday marks World Car Free Day. To mark the occasion, take a look at which American cities rank as the most walkable for 2015.

A woman who saw Miami firefighters rescue a kitten from a storm drain on Local 10 News has traveled across the country to take her home.

Maron Swanson traveled 2,700 miles for the purr-fect moment.

"The story just kept coming up on Twitter and Facebook, so I clicked on it and saw your story about this little kitten rescued from a storm drain," Swanson said.

A Miami Fire Rescue unit pulled the kitten from a filthy storm drain on Labor Day, and named her Storm.

The small kitten was scared and had a severe eye infection, so she was taken to Knowles Animal Clinic.

"I said, 'I want this kitten, I want to give her a home. I want to adopt her,'" Swanson said.

Swanson called, put her name on a list and kept her fingers crossed.

So why would a woman from Los Angeles want a kitten that was pulled from a drain thousands of miles away?

According to Swanson, when she was 10 she rescued kittens from a drain in South Dakota but her parents wouldn't let her keep them.

That has stuck with her for years.

"When I saw Storm that brought that memory for sure," she said.

Late last week, Storm was healthy enough to go home and the animal hospital called to tell Swanson that Storm was hers.

"I freaked out a little and I said, 'I'm going to Miami, this is crazy,'" Swanson said.

Swanson arrived from LA on Sunday and picked up Storm.

"I called my mom, I called my fiance. She is the most adorable thing that I have ever seen. I'm in love," she said.

Swanson plans to keep the name Storm. She and her fiance have one other cat in West Hollywood.

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One person was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center after a crash in North Miami Monday afternoon.

Sky 10 was above the scene at Northeast 151st Street and Biscayne Boulevard shortly before 5 p.m. as fire rescue crews worked to extricate a victim from inside a silver car.

It's unclear how many vehicles were involved in the crash or the extent of the victim's injuries.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

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Two popular Miami Beach restaurants were ordered shut by state inspectors after multiple violations were found that could be hazardous to your health.

A former Miami police officer is accused of accepting cash bribes in exchange for providing information about traffic crashes in the city.

Julio Ruiz is charged with three counts of affecting commerce by extortion under color of official right.

The FBI, Miami Police Department and federal prosecutors made the announcement Monday.

Prosecutors said Ruiz accepted cash payments on three occasions between April and June 2013 for $1,800 in cash and a cellphone.

In exchange for the bribe payments, Ruiz used his position to provide information about crashes to those who paid him, prosecutors said.

Ruiz could face up to 20 years in prison and pay a $250,000 fine if convicted.

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A teenager was injured after falling from a catwalk at a Miami Gardens school.

The incident happened Monday afternoon in the courtyard at Miami Norland Senior High School.

Sky 10 flew above the school as paramedics tended to a teen lying on the ground. They placed him on a stretcher and put him in an ambulance.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools spokesman John Schuster said the teen was being treated for head and leg injuries. Schuster said his injuries were not considered life-threatening.

It wasn't immediately known how the boy fell off the catwalk.

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A Miami-Dade County commissioner arrested in Key West on suspicion of drunken driving refused to consent to a breath test, a police report obtained Monday by Local 10 News said.

Jose "Pepe" Diaz was arrested on a DUI charge after he was pulled over on his motorcycle Saturday night on South Roosevelt Boulevard.

"This is something that I don't desire upon anybody," Diaz said outside his home Monday afternoon. "Something extremely difficult, especially standing here and saying it the way I'm trying to say it. Again, I am sorry."

The police report said Diaz was traveling 74 mph in a 30 mph zone. An officer wrote in the report that Diaz didn't use the kickstand for his motorcycle, causing it to fall over.

Police said Diaz's speech sounded slurred, his eyes were bloodshot and his breath smelled of alcohol.

Diaz told police he had a rum and Coke and one glass of champagne about three hours earlier, the report said.

Police said Diaz failed a roadside field-sobriety test, so he was arrested and taken to the Monroe County Detention Center.

While he was being processed, Diaz refused multiple requests to take a breath test, but police performed the test against his will, the report said.

Diaz, who was elected to office in 2002, was released from jail on a $1,000 bond Sunday.

"Under advice of my legal counsel, I cannot discuss details at this time," Diaz said in a statement after the arrest. "However, I look forward to resolving this matter. In the meantime, I will continue to serve my community and the residents of District 12 as I have done for the last 24 years, and I humbly ask for your patience during this time."

Diaz is expected to appear before a Monroe County judge Oct. 5.

Jose 'Pepe' Diaz police body cam video

Jose 'Pepe' Diaz dash cam arrest video

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Police are searching for two children who they say were taken by their non-custodial mother and father.

The children, Keilyn and Kristel Martinez, are believed to be in the care of Christy Vigo Rezkala and Erlin Martine (pictured below).

The girls were last seen Sunday at a family member's home at 2853 SW 23rd St.

Keilyn Martinez, 4, is described as white, 2 feet 8 inches tall and 30 pounds.

Kristel Martinez, 3, is described as white, 2 feet 10 inches tall and 50 pounds.

Both girls have black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of any of the subjects is asked to contact the Miami Police Department Special Victims Unit at 305-603-6310.

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A Sunrise man is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend after she screamed her ex-husband's name twice during sex, police said.

Fidel Lopez, 34, was arrested Sunday on a murder charge.

Sunrise police said officers were called to Lopez's apartment early Sunday morning after he called 911 to say that his girlfriend was having trouble breathing and was going to die. When officers arrived, they found the naked body of Maria Nemeth on the bathroom floor next to a large amount of blood.

[Warning: This article contains graphic details that some readers may find disturbing.]

According to the police report, there were "several chunks of bloody tissue on the floor inside the closet." Police said the closet door had been ripped out and was on the hallway floor, and there were holes in the dry wall. Police said the rear sliding glass door was shattered.

During an interview with detectives, Lopez said that he and Nemeth were drinking tequila inside his apartment when they began to have "rough sex." He said Nemeth asked him to put a beer bottle and his fist inside her vagina, saying that it was her idea and that she enjoyed it, the report said.

Lopez said Nemeth then went into the bathroom to vomit, and he later found her having trouble breathing, so he called 911, the report said.

Detectives said Lopez later admitted that Nemeth "became very intoxicated" and they ended up inside the closet, where they started to have sex. It was during sex that Nemeth said the name of her ex-husband twice, enraging Lopez, detectives said.

Lopez began to break things throughout the apartment, shattering the sliding glass door and punching holes in the wall, detectives said. He then returned to the closet, where Nemeth was lying unconscious, and "began to insert several items into (her)," the report said. Among the items noted in the report are a beer bottle and a flat iron.

Detectives said Lopez gave them a graphic description of how he stuck his arm inside her vagina and anus "all the way up to his elbow," causing her to bleed. Lopez admitted to ripping internal tissue out of her, including intestinal matter, detectives said.

In the report, Lopez told detectives that he became a "monster."

Lopez said he carried Nemeth to the bathroom and tried to put water on her face to wake her up, but she never regained consciousness, the report said. Lopez then washed the blood off his hands in the bathroom sink, went outside to smoke a cigarette and then began to panic, taking items from the closet to cover up the bloody tissue, the report said.

When he returned to the bathroom to check on Nemeth, Lopez noticed that she wasn't breathing, so he decided to call 911, detectives said Lopez told them.

Nemeth worked in the leasing office at the Colonnade Residences, where her body was found.

"We're devastated," neighbor Dan Carter told Local 10. "There's a black cloud hanging over this apartment complex. Now the neighbors are sad. It's a horrible loss."

Lopez was being held without bond at the main Broward County jail.

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Cuban musicians perform during Pope Francis Mass

Cuba's ISA, Universidad del as Artes students perform

Cuban beats make their way to Pope Francis Sunday Mass

Cuban musicians presented an idiomatic repertoire of Roman Catholic liturgical hymns at the tune of populist Afro-Cuban rhythms and with the precision of European classical.

After months of practice for the huge outdoor Sunday Mass, the youth orchestra and chamber choir had many tapping their feet, during Pope Francis' sojourn in Havana.

Two ancient percussion instruments enriched the religious beats: The dry ratchet-like sound of the "Guiro" scraper and the rattle of the maracas, also known as rumba shakers.

"God’s holy and faithful Cuban people have a taste for parties, for friendship, for beautiful things," the pope said in Spanish during his homily. They "march with songs of praise."

Havana's Lyceum Mozartiano music students from the Instituto Superior de Arte, Universidad de las Artes followed the lead of conductor José Antonio Méndez at the Revolution Square.

The closing piece d'occasion was "Salve Regina," by Cuban pianist and composer Jose Maria Vitier. The musician told a Cuban Debate reporter that the song was inspired on the annunciation of the Virgin Mary.

The Cuban composer also said that his son's miraculous recovery after a car crash, made him indebted to the patroness of Cuba -- Our Lady of Charity, also known as Shrine of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, or in Spanish "La Virgen de La Caridad del Cobre."

Afro-Cuban Santeria followers know the Roman Catholic saint as Yoruba's Ochún, a young "Orichá" or mythological goddess, who represents feminine sensuality and purification.

Many Cubans who practice both religions view Pope Francis' visit to El Cobre Monday as sacred. The heritage of the Santeros' syncopated rhythm of the drums, which they view as a spiritual experience, is present in most traditional Cuban music. 

Archdiocese of Miami Rev. Mark T. Reeves said those following the pope's 10-day trip should enjoy the Cuban take on Catholic liturgical songs, because the tone was going to change in the United States. Pope Francis arrives at Washington, D.C., Tuesday, and New York City Thursday.

Reeves was not referring to the disharmony in Philadelphia, where the pope will travel to Saturday and there are an estimated 1.4 million Catholics.  And their larges ancestries are Irish, German and Italian. There is a small population of Mexican-Americans.

The director of the office of liturgical music in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia John Romerier quit a few months before the historic visit. In his resignation letter, Romerier cited "irreconcilable differences" after "several years of discontent."

"I suspect that in Philadelphia later, it's going to be a little more staid," Reeves said. The music is going to be "a little more formal."

Cuban students practice for Pope's Mass

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Pope Francis marked a personal anniversary Monday -- the day as a teenager he decided to become a priest -- by pressing a subtle message to Cubans at a delicate point in their history: Overcome ideological preconceptions and be willing to change.

Francis traveled to Cuba's fourth-largest city, Holguin, and celebrated a Mass where Cuban rhythms mixed with church hymns under a scorching tropical sun. Later, he was scheduled to go to Santiago on Cuba's eastern end before flying Tuesday to Washington for the U.S. leg of his trip to the two former Cold War foes.

Singing children and a small crowd waving Cuban and Vatican flags greeted Francis on arrival, some crying out, "Francis! Holguin is with you!" Holguin's Plaza of the Revolution was packed with thousands of people, many dressed in white to protect themselves from the sun.

Security agents didn't appear to be letting members of the crowd get close to him. On Sunday, an apparent dissident hung on to the popemobile and seemed to be appealing to the pontiff before the man was dragged away.

The head of the opposition group Ladies in White said 22 of 24 members who wanted to attend Francis' Mass on Sunday were prevented from going by Cuban security agents. And two well-known Cuban dissidents said agents detained them after the Vatican invited them to the pope's vespers service at Havana's cathedral.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, confirmed that some dissidents were invited to events to receive a greeting from the pope but said he didn't know why it didn't come to pass.

Asked if the Holy See would lodge an official protest, Lombardi demurred. He stressed that what was planned was just a "passing greeting," not an official meeting, and that it was set up at the last minute out of a "desire to show an attention for everyone, including dissidents."

READ AND WATCH THIS: Transcript of Pope Francis' Holguin Mass homily

In his homily in Holguin, a city of about 300,000, Francis pressed some of the subtle themes he has developed during this delicate balancing act of a visit, telling thousands in Holguin the story of how Jesus picked a lowly and despised tax collector, Matthew, and instructed him to follow him without casting judgment. That experience of mercy changed Matthew forever.

Francis told the Cubans that they, too, should allow themselves "to slowly overcome our preconceptions and our reluctance to think that others, much less ourselves, can change."

Pope Francis homily in Holguin Cuba

Why did Pope Francis wear red in Holguin green in Havana

"Do you believe it is possible that a tax collector can be a servant?" he asked. "Do you believe it is possible that a traitor can become a friend?"

It was a theme Francis sketched out Sunday night in an off-the-cuff encounter with young people. He encouraged them to dream big about what their life could be like, and not be "boxed in" by ideologies or preconceptions about other people.

"If you are different than me, why don't we talk?" Francis asked the crowd. "Why do we always throw rocks at that which separates us?"

The message comes at a delicate time of change in Cuba as the communist country negotiates normalization of ties with its longtime foe, the United States, and undertakes modest free-market reforms that have opened some sectors of the economy to private enterprise while keeping large-scale enterprise in state hands.

Cuba has long defined itself by its rejection of the competition and self-interest that many see as central to life in the U.S. and other developed countries.

Detente with the United States has raised hopes on both sides of the Florida Straits that the millions of families divided by the 1959 Cuban revolution will be reunited.

Francis' homily also reflected a very personal story of his own faith and willingness to change.

On Sept. 21, 1953 -- 62 years ago Monday -- a 17-year-old Jorge Mario Bergoglio went to confession at his parish church in the Flores neighborhood of Buenos Aires. During the confession, he later wrote, he "realized God was waiting for me," and he decided to become a priest.

Bergoglio wouldn't enter the seminary for several more years, but Sept. 21 -- the feast of St. Matthew -- has remained a crucial reference point for the pope. His motto -- Miserando atque eligendo (Having had mercy, he called him) -- is inspired by the feast day and the story of Matthew, a sinner who was looked upon with mercy by Jesus and was changed forever.

Associated Press writers E. Eduardo Castillo, Michael Weissenstein and Anne-Marie Garcia in Havana and Christine Armario in Holguin, Cuba, contributed to this report

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Behind the scenes: Local 10 News in Cuba

Lewis and Clark return to St. Louis, the Nintendo Company is formed, Sigmund Freud dies, "The Jetsons" premieres, and Elton John's musical tribute to Princess Diana hits America, all on this day.

Gillian is waiting at the Humane Society of Broward County, along with all the other fabulous friends in this slideshow looking for a family to call their own.

A Miami-Dade County commissioner pondered his political future as he was being arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in Key West last weekend.

Jose "Pepe" Diaz was arrested on a DUI charge after he was pulled over on his motorcycle Saturday night on South Roosevelt Boulevard.

Key West police body cameras captured Diaz's roadside field-sobriety test.

"There goes my political career," Diaz said at one point in the video.

The police report said Diaz was traveling 74 mph in a 30 mph zone. An officer wrote in the report that Diaz didn't use the kickstand for his motorcycle, causing it to fall over.

Police said Diaz's speech sounded slurred, his eyes were bloodshot and his breath smelled of alcohol.

Diaz told police he had a rum and Coke and one glass of champagne about three hours earlier, the report said.

In the video, Diaz told an officer that he was a county commissioner, albeit out of his jurisdiction. Then he revealed that he knew Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay.

"Call Rick," Diaz said. "He knows me."

"Who?" the officer asked.

"The sheriff," Diaz replied.

Police said Diaz refused multiple requests to take a breath test. He was taken to jail and later released on bond.

Diaz, who is in his fourth term as District 12 commissioner, apologized to the media outside his home Monday.

"This is something that I've learned from, and it's something I'll continue to learn from every day of my life," Diaz said.

Diaz is expected to appear before a Monroe County judge Oct. 5.

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Later this week, dozens of Miami Beach police officers will begin training with a new Taser.

The move comes after the Miami Beach Police Department announced some changes to its Taser policies and procedures on Tuesday.

Police told Local 10 News reporter Michael Seiden that the new Taser is bigger, brighter and ultimately safer for both police officers and suspects.

The chief of police describes the Taser as a "smart weapon" that's safer and more compassionate.

"Let's face it. There have been a handful of tragedies around the country, and we're familiar with our event as well," Miami Beach Police Chief Daniel Oates said.

The new Taser comes two years after Israel Hernandez, 18, died after he was hit in the chest by an officer's Taser.

Prosecutors cleared the officer, but now an internal investigation is underway. Oates is limited on what he can discuss, but he did make one thing clear.

"I recognize what my responsibilities as police chief are," Oates said. "That we learn whatever we can from that matter, and what we are releasing today is part of that process."

Beginning Tuesday, the Miami Beach Police Department will begin implementing new policies and procedures for officers using their Tasers.  Some of the changes include:

-Officers can no longer hit a person in the chest.

-A person may not be stunned by a Taser more than three times.

- Tasers can't be used to intimidate a person.

-Officers will not be able to stun someone who's in handcuffs.

READ: Full policy

"If I deploy two darts and they're too close, what I would do is move this somewhere else and put it somewhere on your body," Officer William Collado, who is the department's master Taser instructor, said.

Collado said the new Tasers use less energy but still get the same results.

In April, a reserve deputy in Oklahoma made a fatal mistake thinking he was firing his Taser, but instead shot his gun, killing the suspect.

Police believe the new policies and Tasers will make the streets safer for police and the public.

Police said the new Tasers also collect data, so investigators can see how many times an officer used it.

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Police are searching for a man who used another person's identity to cash checks at numerous locations in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

Miramar police said the man also withdrew money from an ATM in Miramar and a Chase Bank branch at 6860 Miramar Parkway.

Police said the victim currently lives in the Davie area but previously attended Miramar High School.

Anyone with information about the identity of the culprit is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.  

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A Fort Lauderdale man accused of fatally striking a man who was riding a Go-Ped in May has asked a Broward County judge to lower his $1 million bond.

Judge Barbara McCarthy spent the better part of two days listening to testimony and decided Tuesday that the man's bond will remain as is.

Scott Roman, 47, of Fort Lauderdale, was arrested Aug. 31 on a charge of leaving a scene involving a death and tampering with evidence.

Roman told the judge that he needs his bond lowered so he can care for his ill husband. He also claimed that the 10 percent required by the bondsman was too steep for him.

However, prosecutors said Roman is a flight risk and said he has more than enough money to pay his bond, citing his $880,000 waterfront home and a recent 9-day trip to Cambodia.

The victim, Joseph Deverson, 22, was taken to Broward Health Medical Center in the late evening of May 11 after he was struck by a car while riding his Go-Ped.

He was pronounced dead later that week.

According to detectives, Deverson was riding his Go-Ped on Powerline Road, just north of Oakland Park Boulevard, when he was hit. The driver, believed to be Roman, never stopped.

Deputies said it's possible that Roman didn't see Deverson, and if he had stayed at the scene, there's a chance that he wouldn't have been charged.

Detectives believe Roman had left Georgie's Alibi, a bar in Wilton Manors, shortly before the crash. Roman admitted to drinking at a bar that night, but claims a stranger drove him home.

Roman's white BMW was found days after the crash at The Palms condominiums in Fort Lauderdale.

Deputies said Roman told an employee at the building to make arrangements to have his vehicle repaired. They said the employee saw news reports about the crash and noticed that Roman's BMW had front-end damage and a missing passenger-side mirror.

Broward County Judge John Hurley previously ordered that Roman be placed under house arrest if he bonds out of jail. He must also surrender his passport, not travel to any port facility, operate a vehicle or drink alcohol.

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A man told Local 10 News that he was driving south on Interstate 95 Tuesday afternoon when a Miami-Dade County bus kicked up a large rock, which went through his windshield.

The man said the rock struck his wife, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, in the chest.

The couple drove to a Sunoco station at 10260 NW Seventh Ave., where police completed an incident report.

The man Local 10 News reporter Andrew Perez that his wife was OK, but was "in shock."

She was taken to a hospital to get checked out as a precaution.

Police did not immediately comment on the incident.

Watch Local 10 News or refresh this page for updates.

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