The Archdiocese of Miami, preparing for the first visit of a pope to Cuba in 14 years, will sponsor two excursions to bring Catholics to the island for the “springtime of faith” March trip — one with a Havana-only stay, another that will begin in Santiago and end in Havana.

Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski will also celebrate a Mass in Havana’s cathedral March 27 as part of the trip by Pope Benedict XVI. This is not a first — former Archbishop John C. Favalora did so in 1998 during Pope John Paul II’s visit to the island — but the act underscores Wenski’s message of reconciliation to Cubans on both sides of the Florida Straits.

Speaking both in English and Spanish at a Wednesday press conference, Wenski reiterated what will likely be a theme during the pope’s visit, set for March 26-28. “This visit will have its own gifts to bring to the Cuban people,” he said.

He also said that the pope is traveling to Cuba “as a pilgrim of charity. We go to Cuba in the same spirit.”

The archdiocese-sponsored excursions will leave March 26 from Miami International Airport. Pilgrims going to Santiago will attend an open-air Mass at the city’s Antonio Maceo Revolution Square, the same plaza where hundreds of thousands heard Pope John Paul say Mass 14 years ago. The celebration will mark the Solemnity of the Annunciation, a Catholic holy day that recalls an angel’s announcement to Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus.

After the Santiago Mass, a flight will take the pilgrims to Havana, where Wenski will celebrate a morning Mass in the cathedral the following day. On March 28, another Mass is scheduled, this one celebrated by Pope Benedict in Havana’s Plaza of the Revolution. The group will return to Miami March 29. The travel packages will include airfare, bus transfers, hotel accommodations and most meals, but the cost of a visa is additional.

Wenski said it was too early to know how many faithful would apply to go, but he spoke several times of two charter flights, with each plane holding as many as 250 people. The Archdiocese did not try to charter a cruise ship to make the trip to the island, as it did for John Paul’s visit, because there isn’t sufficient time to prepare for such a trip, Wenski said.

In 1998, more than 400 Catholics from South Florida and around the country purchased tickets for a four-day, Miami-to-Havana cruise, but it was abruptly canceled weeks before the sailing date after some Cuban exile leaders opposed the cruise. At that time, Favalora said the cruise ship had become “a source of serious tension in our community.”

Wenski acknowledged that a pilgrimage to the island may be criticized by some in South Florida. But, he added, “in this community, you always get heat no matter what side you take.”

Since the last papal visit, the Cuban government has also shown more tolerance of spirituality. “This visit wouldn’t be able to happen without that first visit,” Wenski said.

Last month, Benedict announced his plans to visit Cuba to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the appearance of Our Lady of Charity — Cuba’s patron saint. He was invited by President Raúl Castro and the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba. In addition to celebrating Mass in Santiago and Havana, the pope plans to stop at the virgin’s shrine in the town of El Cobre. He will also meet separately with Raúl Castro and Cuban bishops.

Both Wenski and Cuban Cardinal Jaime Ortega have repeated the phrase “a springtime of faith” to describe the pope’s trip. Wenski has also said that the Archdiocese of Miami is “almost like another archdiocese of Cuba” because many South Florida Catholics are Cuban or Cuban-American.

Because this is a religious trip, it is open to anyone, including non-Cuban-Americans without prior U.S. government approval — a result of the Obama administration’s relaxation of travel restrictions. Pilgrimage application forms can be found at the archdiocese’s website, www.miamiarch.org. Type “pilgrimage application form” in the keyword search. Once filled out, the form must be submitted by email to cuba2012@theadom.org or sent by fax to 305-757-3947.

Miami Herald staff writer Mimi Whitefield contributed to this report.