Pope Francis sends message to "Summit of the Americas"
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a message to a two day “Summit of the Americas” in Panama where 35 nations are expected to participate.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin has been entrusted with the message to the Summit.
The event is being perceived as being extraordinary due to Cuba’s first appearance at the summit since its beginnings in 1994.
The title of the Pope’s message is, “Prosperity with Equity: the Challenge of Cooperation in the Americas.”
A long awaited meeting between Obama and Castro would mark a fundamental chapter between the two countries after the announcement of a “thaw” between Cuba and the US last December.
President Obama stated that the Pope had played a significant role in this dialogue. Cardinal Jaime Ortega, Archbishop of Havana also spoke of the initiative taken by the Holy Father in December in support of breaking down the decades-long enmity between the two nations.
President Obama has been recommended by the State Department that Cuba be taken off the U.S. list of countries that sponsor terrorism.