(Vatican Radio) After more than a half-century of hostility, the United States and Cuba are to work toward the establishment of full diplomatic relations – and US President Barack Obama says that Pope Francis played an instrumental role in creating the conditions for the development.
The Secretariat of State of the Holy See issued a statement offering Pope Francis’ expressions of “warm congratulations for the historic decision taken by the Governments of the United States of America and Cuba to establish diplomatic relations, with the aim of overcoming, in the interest of the citizens of both countries, the difficulties which have marked their recent history.”
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The announcement of efforts to normalize relations came in the context of the release of US aid worker Alan Gross and an exchange of intelligence officers being detained on the island and in the US.
US President Barack Obama said that Pope Francis played a role in bringing him and Cuban leader Raul Castro together. “His Holiness Pope Francis issued a personal appeal to me, and to Cuba’s President Raul Castro, urging us to resolve Alan’s case, and to address Cuba’s interest in the release of three Cuban agents who have been jailed in the United States for over 15 years,” Obama said.
Raul Castro also welcomed the exchange and the move to normalize relations. “[President] Obama’s decision,” said Castro, “deserves the respect and acknowledgment of our people.”
Relations between Cuba and the US deteriorated rapidly and eventually disintegrated entirely in the wake of the takeover of the island by Communist revolutionaries led by current Cuban president Raul Castro’s brother, Fidel, in 1959.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday offered his congratulations to the governments of the United States and Cuba, as they announced the two countries will start talks on resuming diplomatic relations. A statement from the Vatican Secretariat of State said that in recent months the Pope had written to both Cuban President Raul Castro and U.S. President Barack Obama, inviting them to “resolve humanitarian questions of common interest”. The Holy See also met with delegations from both countries in the Vatican last October, providing what the statement calls “its good offices to facilitate a constructive dialogue”. The communiqué says the Holy See will continue to offer support for initiatives on the part of both countries to strengthen bilateral relations and promote the wellbeing of their respective citizens.
Please find below the full communiqué from the Secretariat of State
The Holy Father wishes to express his warm congratulations for the historic decision taken by the Governments of the United States of America and Cuba to establish diplomatic relations, with the aim of overcoming, in the interest of the citizens of both countries, the difficulties which have marked their recent history. In recent months, Pope Francis wrote letters to the President of the Republic of Cuba, His Excellency Mr Raúl Castro, and the President of the United States, The Honorable Barack H. Obama, and invited them to resolve humanitarian questions of common interest, including the situation of certain prisoners, in order to initiate a new phase in relations between the two Parties The Holy See received Delegations of the two countries in the Vatican last October and provided its good offices to facilitate a constructive dialogue on delicate matters, resulting in solutions acceptable to both Parties. The Holy See will continue to assure its support for initiatives which both nations will undertake to strengthen their bilateral relations and promote the wellbeing of their respective citizens.
From the Vatican, 17th December 2014
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday offered his congratulations to the governments of the United States and Cuba, as they announced the two countries will start talks on resuming diplomatic relations. A statement from the Vatican Secretariat of State said that in recent months the Pope had written to both Cuban President Raul Castro and…
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As anticipated, Pope Francis has appointed new members to the Pontifical
Commission for the Protection of Minors, chosen from various parts of the world,
so as to allow a broad representation of different
situations and cultures. The Holy See Press Office announced this on
Wednesday in a press release which indicated the complete composition of the
Commission as follows: — Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley, ofm
Cap., President; — Msgr Robert Oliver
(United States), Secretary; — Rev. Luis Manuel Ali
Herrera (Colombia); — Dr Catherine Bonnet
(France); — Marie Collins
(Ireland); — Dr Gabriel Dy-Liacco
(Philippines); — Baroness, Prof.
Sheila Hollins (England); — Bill Kilgallon (New
Zealand); — Sr Kayula Gertrude
Lesa, rsc (Zambia); — Sr Hermenegild
Makoro, cps (South Africa); — Kathleen McCormack, am
(Australia); — Dr Claudio Papale
(Italy); — Peter Saunders
(England); — Hon. Hanna Suchocka
(Poland); — Dr Krysten
Winter-Green (United States); — Rev. Dr. Humberto
Miguel Yáñez, sj (Argentina); — Rev. Dr. Hans
Zollner, sj (Germany). The next plenary
session of the Commission will take place in the Vatican from 6–8 February
2015, as previously announced….
As anticipated, Pope Francis has appointed new members to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, chosen from various parts of the world, so as to allow a broad representation of different situations and cultures. The Holy See Press Office announced this on Wednesday in a press release which indicated the complete composition of…
Read more