Locals React To Raul Castro And Pope Francis Meeting At Vatican
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Raul Castro and Pope Francis met at the Vatican on Sunday. It's a meeting that has people talking from Cuba to South Florida.
"I think the pope is really trying to be like a peacemaker, almost like a middle-person a mediator," said Nancy Calvo.
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The pope has encouraged the U.S. and Cuba to open up diplomatic relations and Castro reportedly praised the pope for doing so.
In little Havana the meeting brought mixed reactions.
"It can only be good for Cuba," said Robert, who did not want to give his last name.
Frank Rodriguez disagreed.
"I don't think it's going to help anybody," he said
Rodriguez came from Cuba in the 1960s. He says there is only one way to truly make a change in Cuba.
"What's got to change is the whole government. It's got to go democratic across the board A to Z and it's not going to happen," he said.
He doesn't agree with the pope's meeting with Castro.
"He should probably stay out of it. Religion is a line. Religion and government don't mix," said Rodriguez.
Other Cuban Americans feel differently.
"As it is we're seeing already changes already," said Robert, adding, "We have family there and they're seeing food on the table they didn't see before."
He says the meeting between Castro and the pope is a step in the right direction and expects to see big changes coming to Cuba in the future.
"Tourism is going to be better," he said. "We're going to be able to take our cars there for ourselves - take the little ferry from Key West, be able to drive around our cars in Cuba."
Pope Francis has a trip to Cuba scheduled for September.