Pope Praises Diplomacy Of US-Cuba Accord
VATICAN CITY (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Pope Francis praised the "small steps'' of diplomacy and peacemaking that brought about the rapprochement between the U.S. and Cuba, expressing joy over the outcome that he helped bring about.
"Today we're all happy, because we saw how two people who had been so far apart for so many years took a step closer yesterday,'' Francis said Thursday in his first public comments about the breakthrough.
In remarks to a group of new ambassadors to the Holy See, Francis said diplomacy was a "noble job --- a work of small steps, of little things that always end up making peace, to bring people's hearts together and spread fraternity among peoples.'"
Francis played a crucial role in bringing the U.S. and Cuba together, writing letters to presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro this past summer inviting them to find humanitarian solutions to their differences.
He offered the Vatican as a facilitator, and an agreement was hammered out at the Vatican in October. Francis' seasoned top diplomat, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, helped seal the deal.
Colin Powell, former secretary of state under George W. Bush, supports Obama's new course.
"I think it's time now to turn that page of history," he said.
Powell admits that as a secretary of state he helped strengthen sanctions against Cuba, but he said on "CBS This Morning" that having diplomatic relations can now help produce positive change.
"They're not going to get off the sanctions list anytime soon," he said. "Congress isn't going to do that, but it's good to have an ambassador there who can tell the Cubans 'this is what comes if you start to respond in a positive way.'"
As well as restoring diplomatic relations, Obama plans to ease travel restrictions to Cuba for family visits, government business and educational activities, while tourist travel remains banned. Only lawmakers can revoke the trade embargo, though, and that appears unlikely to happen soon.
But not everyone believes normalizing relations with Cuba is a good thing. Congress members on both sides of the aisle have blasted the decision.
"It's a fallacy to believe that Cuba will reform because an American president opens his hands and the Castro brothers will suddenly unclench their fists," said Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey.
"What these changes are going to do is they will tighten this regime's grip on power for decades to come, and it will significantly set back the hopes of freedom and democracy for the Cuban people," said Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida.
As CBS2's Adriana Diaz reported, Cubans are eager to see what renewed relations with the United States could do for their country.
The island economy is struggling, and people are dealing with shortages of food, oil and consumer goods.
Many are looking for a boost in tourism and the injection of money more travelers would bring.
One man told Diaz he makes more money selling knickknacks to tourists than he would with his law degree.
"The U.S. is the biggest economic power in the world and can bring economic change in tourism," he said.
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