Vatican hopes pope’s Cuba trip helps end US embargo

Vatican hopes pope's Cuba trip helps end US embargo
Holy See states desire for end to US embargo and improved human rights
on the island
Fri, Sep 18, 2015, 06:34

The Vatican said on Thursday it hoped Pope Francis's trip to Cuba would
help bring an end to a 53-year-old US embargo and lead to more freedom
and human rights on the communist island.
The pope will spend four days in Cuba before flying to the United
States. He is visiting both countries for the first time as pontiff,
after Vatican mediation that led to a restoration of ties between
Washington and Havana last year.
In an interview with Vatican Television, the Vatican secretary of state,
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said the Holy See had always opposed the trade
and economic embargo against Cuba because it hurt ordinary people most.
"It is hoped ... that a measure like this (ending the embargo) will also
bring with it a greater openness from the point of view of freedom and
human rights," Parolin said.
He said the Vatican hoped for "a flowering of these fundamental aspects
for the life of persons and peoples".
Last month, US secretary of state John Kerry said the US Congress was
unlikely to ever lift a punishing economic embargo on Cuba unless the
Communist government improved its human rights record. Cuba fiercely
rejects such conditions.
Before resuming relations, the two countries were locked for decades in
hostilities that outlived the Cold War.
The comments by cardinal Parolin, known as the "deputy pope" because he
is second only to pope Francis in the Vatican hierarchy, appeared to be
hints that the pope would speak about the embargo as well as about human
rights while in Cuba.
Amnesty International said he was visiting Cuba while the island was at
"a human rights crossroads".
"Over the past few months, we have seen unprecedented openness when it
comes to Cuba's international relations," said Erika Guevara-Rosas,
Americas director at the rights group.
"However, the country still needs to make progress when it comes to
allowing people to peacefully express their views without fear of being
harassed, detained or attacked."
Cuba's Communist government has said it has no political prisoners, and
that opponents mistakenly consider armed counter-revolutionaries and
common criminals as political cases.
In a video message to Cubans ahead of his visit, pope Francis asked for
prayers and said he was coming as a "missionary of God's mercy and
tenderness".
In the message shown mid-evening on state TV, Francis also offered a
simple message: "Jesus loves you very much, he really loves you, he
carries you in his heart."
Reuters

Source: Vatican hopes pope's Cuba trip helps end US embargo -
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/vatican-hopes-pope-s-cuba-trip-helps-end-us-embargo-1.2356548