Pope Francis played a "key role" in the historic normalization of relations,
announced today, between the United States and Cuba.
As the first Latin American pope,
he had great credibility in the negotiations,
said one official quoted in this story.
As someone named after St. Francis of Assisi,
he is also someone committed to working for peace.
Blessed are the peacemakers. - Fr. Martin, SJ
Obama thanked Pope Francis on National TV.
Although negotiations had been brewing for some time, the first face-to-face meeting between Cuban and American officials took place in Canada in June 2013. Many of the ensuing meetings took place in Canada, but senior administration officials said that the Vatican played an important role in bringing the sides together as well. When Obama visited the Vatican in March, he and Pope Francis discussed the issue, and the Pope sent Obama and Castro personal letters to encourage them to press forward with negotiations. - Cuba Releases American Prisoner
There will be lots of press on this - lots! I think it is wonderful news!
I wonder if the enemies of Francis will now begin to compare him to the Borgia Pope Alexander VI - the only other pope I can think of at the moment who effected any major change in the New World (Treaty of Tordesillas) - I may be wrong of course ...
"We drew the line between Spain and Portugal."
- Papa Alexander VI
Merry Christmas!
