Phila. Archbishop Delighted With Pope's Role in US-Cuba Normalization Efforts
By Mark Abrams
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The behind-the-scenes role the Vatican played in getting the United States and Cuba to work toward normalizing relations is not a surprise to Philadelphia's archbishop.
Today, during the annual archdiocese Christmas benefit for children in center city, Philadelphia archbishop Charles Chaput said Pope Francis was simply being the pope.
"He's kind of a center of unity for the whole world, whether you're Christian or not," Chaput (near center of photo) told KYW Newsradio, "so this development has been a great blessing for the world community. And I'm very happy that our church has been able to be an active part of it."
Chaput says Pope Francis' mission is to actively promote peace in the world.
"He's also giving us all a lesson in the importance of working for unity, not just in our own families but in the communities in which we live. And the United States is part of the world community, so I'm very happy that not only did the pope get involved, but our country responded," Chaput said.
Pope Francis is coming to Philadelphia next September, his first visit to the US as the head of the world's more than 1.2 billion Roman Catholics.