Cuban authorities have detained over 50 demonstrators calling for the government’s release of political prisoners.

As previously reported, the communist country had announced it would release over 3,500 prisoners as a gesture of goodwill. However, Cuba stipulated that no prisoners that have been found guilty of crimes against state security would be eligible for release.

The arrests come less than a week before Pope Francis comes to visit Cuba, which has a particular resonance as the majority of the jailed activists were members of the predominantly Catholic dissident group called the Ladies in White.

The group, which is made up of the wives and other female relatives of jailed dissidents, has a history of being arrested. As recently as last year, the BBC reported the Cuban government maintained that the organization, which has been protesting since 2003, is funded by the United States.

On Sunday, the Ladies in White walked through the streets of Havana holding up pictures of political prisoners before being taken into custody by the police. Hours later, some were released.

As the pope arrives on Saturday, Cuba is no doubt upping their security as several dissident groups have made their plans to protest known.

Jose Daniel Ferrer, the head of the dissident group Patriotic Union of Cuba, explained to Reuters his view that the Catholic Church should be talking an interest in human rights issues in Cuba. "The Church should be concerned about this or any time human rights are involved." he said.

Berta Soler, the leader of the Ladies in White, said that her group plans to attend the Masses Pope Francis will lead in Cuba. "I would discuss with the pope the need to stop police violence against those who exercise their freedom to demonstrate in public," said Soler.