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Pope Francis played significant role in secret talks to normalize relations between U.S. and Cuba
New York Daily News ^ | 12/18/2014 | Deborah Hastings

Posted on 12/18/2014 6:48:40 AM PST by SeekAndFind

The Vatican played a significant role in healing relations between arch foes Cuba and the United States, officials said Wednesday.

Pope Francis was personally involved in secret negotiations between the longtime enemies, sources said Wednesday, as the historic announcement was made in Washington D.C. The pontiff sent private letters to President Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro over the summer, urging them to turn their swords into ploughshares.

The Pope expressed "warm congratulations for the historic decision" to resume relations, the Vatican said in a statement Wednesday.

The Vatican and an undisclosed Canadian location served as top-secret areas for negotiations between Cuban and American officials.

Florida Sen. Mark Rubio, a Cuban-American and a Catholic, called out the Pope for mixing in politics, but praised his help in gainting freedom for an imprisoned American. Rubio also criticized Obama for reaching an agreement with Castro, saying the President was trying to "appease rogue regimes at all costs."

(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...


TOPICS: Cuba; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: cuba; normalization; popefrancis; prisoner; rubio
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To: texas booster

“(Not completely decided on the Pope)”

ORLY ? ? ?

I have.

He is.


41 posted on 12/18/2014 8:52:15 AM PST by GladesGuru (Islam Delenda Est. Because of what Islam is - and because of what Muslims do.)
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To: allendale

“The Pope was played for a fool.”

Hardly.

The Pope was, for all intents and purposes, a Liberation theologist before being elected Pope.

Just another South American with their inbred propensities for socialism/authoritarianism.


42 posted on 12/18/2014 8:55:43 AM PST by GladesGuru (Islam Delenda Est. Because of what Islam is - and because of what Muslims do.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Here’s the question? What does Castro have to give up?

NADA!


43 posted on 12/18/2014 9:01:31 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: SeekAndFind

So fun to see FR’s resident Ultramontanist caucus spin their heads and split hairs to defend Bergoglio.


44 posted on 12/18/2014 9:04:55 AM PST by Clemenza (Lurking)
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To: Captain Peter Blood

“in time we can make it our 51st state”

CALL YOUR SHRINK - STAT! Get your meds adjusted, ASAP!

Before wishing Cuba to be a state, consider what Puerto Ricans have done to America?

ALso, have you visited Miuba? Note the open presence of “La Mordita” - means ‘the bite’ and really is Spanish for “Baksheesh”.

“Baksheesh” is the Arabic word for the “bribe”. To get a permit in Miuba, AKA Miami-Dade County, one is well advised to hire one of the many companies known for ‘expediting’ your permit application.

A pox on the Latrino societies - they are antithetical to America and are also irreconcilable with America.

Doubters are advised to come to Miuba and see what introduction of Cuban ‘society’ to Florida has accomplished.

Then go to a quiet community called Crescent City and see what level of cultural/societal devolution adding Mexicans to an American community can achieve. Hint, the graduating classes are often 85% ‘Hispanic’.

Second hint, MS-13 grafitti is common, painted on the wsalls of Crescent city buildings since the Mexicans and other Latrino populations were allowed into Crescent City.

Culture is determinative, and Americans must either defend their culture or see it swamped in a flood of illegal aliens from Latrino cultures.


45 posted on 12/18/2014 9:13:07 AM PST by GladesGuru (Islam Delenda Est. Because of what Islam is - and because of what Muslims do.)
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To: SeekAndFind
Frank; the False Prophet

46 posted on 12/18/2014 9:14:39 AM PST by Uri’el-2012 (Psalm 119:174 I long for Your salvation, YHvH, Your teaching is my delight.)
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To: Captain Peter Blood
It would not take long for the Castro's to be a memory and the people will move to a democracy of some form.

The U.S. which is (practically speaking) fast becoming a dictorship will promote pseudo-democracy at most. The Cuban proletariat will remain mired in poverty while the oligarchs line their pockets.

Pope Francis is an anti-capitalist.

47 posted on 12/18/2014 9:46:49 AM PST by BlatherNaut
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To: dfwgator

Who knows. We probably should have rethought the Cuba thing a long time ago.


48 posted on 12/18/2014 12:40:35 PM PST by Captain Peter Blood
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To: BlatherNaut

I totally agree on Pope Francis.


49 posted on 12/18/2014 12:41:58 PM PST by Captain Peter Blood
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To: GladesGuru

Maybe your right, I need more Single Malt Scotch.
It was a fantasy I guess.


50 posted on 12/18/2014 12:43:13 PM PST by Captain Peter Blood
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To: grania
Rubio is one and done.

I sincerely hope you are not a Florida resident, and will not be allowed to subvert our registered citizen voters efforts to toss his lying candy ass out of power at the first opportunity!

51 posted on 12/18/2014 6:55:55 PM PST by sarasmom ( Extortion 17. Obama's revenge on the DOD for the killing of Osama Bin Ladin.)
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To: John S Mosby

I think the Cuban economy was always propped up by non-US players as a way to cock a snook at the USA. And Fidel kept blaming the us embargo foe the evils he created. By removing the embargo he has no excuses and will fall


52 posted on 12/19/2014 12:21:32 AM PST by Cronos (ObamaÂ’s dislike of Assad is not based on AssadÂ’s brutality but that he isn't a jihadi Moslem)
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To: SeekAndFind

Obama has truly found religion at last!

Francis is HIS pope. Not mine!


53 posted on 12/19/2014 5:16:12 AM PST by HomerBohn
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To: Cronos

Perhaps, but there is Helms-Burton Act— a law that does not allow executive lifting of the embargo. And it WILL be enforced, by Congress bicameral resolution vote that put in place the power to continue the embargo. Not the prez. He does it—he is impeached for certain because this ain’t a black white issue it is Constitutional.


54 posted on 12/19/2014 10:07:15 AM PST by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: SeekAndFind

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/394994/three-cuban-spies-released-obama-helped-murder-four-americans-brendan-bordelon

According to National Review, Allen Gross, the American was exchanged for spies who “helped murder 4 Americans”, what’s up with this??

We need the whole story because this is disappointing from the Vatican on the surface.

I am looking forward to some Catholic commentary on this.


55 posted on 12/19/2014 9:21:07 PM PST by BeadCounter
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