Very interesting trust-building broker role by Pope Francis in restoration of US-Cuba diplomatic ties

Some short extracts (in quotes) from, and comments on, "Under Francis, a Bolder Vision of Vatican Diplomacy Emerges", http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/19/world/europe/pope-francis-vatican-diplomatic-mediator-cuba.html

* So Pope Francis stuck his neck out for amity and trust between USA & Cuba. Perhaps, like in business, it is the calculated risk taker who achieves great success, even in religious/spiritual movements. And, like in business, there will be failures which the religious/spiritual leader has to take in his/her stride, and perhaps learn from it.

"Just as John Paul, the first Polish pope, had a unique credibility as a voice against Communism in Eastern Europe, so, too, does Francis — the first Latin American pope — now benefit from a unique credibility in the developing world."
Ravi: Fascinating comparison! It seems to be quite valid. With a Latin American pope, are we in for a resurgence of faith in God in communist/socialist countries of Central and Latin America, like the Polish pope ushered in a resurgence of faith in God in communist Eastern Europe? For theists like me, that would be a wonderful and exciting change.

* "The papacy is one of the world's great opinion formers"! Hmm. Interesting.

* The rapport with world leaders is the critical thing. I think that's where Pope Francis has done very well.

* “Francis has brought back the Holy See on the international stage”
Ravi: The Holy See coming back on the international stage under the very humane and loving, or to put it in simple terms, nice guy, Pope Francis, is a very good thing for the world, IMHO.

--- end extracts & comments ---

An extract from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/the-pope/11300391/Pope-Francis-brokered-US-Cuba-deal-at-secret-Vatican-meetings.html

Announcing the thawing of relations between the two countries, President Obama said he wanted to “in particular” thank the Pope, who happened to celebrate his 78th birthday on Wednesday.
Mr Obama praised his “moral example, showing the world as it should be, rather than simply settling for the world as it is.”

[Ravi: "moral example" - that's what religious & spiritual leaders ought to be. Nothing like teaching by example in spirituality and religion. Everybody knows the theory of doing good and being good - the hassle lies in the practice of it. A 'moral example' spiritual/religious teacher inspires people to try to follow his/her 'moral example'. Pope Francis has taken the world by storm on this aspect of his life & leadership.]

An extract involving criticism from http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2014/12/17/pope-francis-helped-broker-the-restoration-of-us-cuban-relations/

US Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican whose parents immigrated from Cuba in 1956, blasted Obama for not securing more concessions from Cuba in exchange for restoring diplomatic relations, and also took a swipe at Pope Francis’ role.

“I would … ask His Holiness to take up the cause of freedom and democracy, which is critical for a free people — for a people to truly be free,” Rubio, a Catholic, told Talking Points Memo. “I think the people of Cuba deserve the same chances to have democracy as the people of Argentina have had, where he comes from; as the people of Italy have, where he now lives.

“Obviously the Vatican’s its own state, but very nearby,” the senator said. “My point is I hope that people with that sort of prestige on the world stage will take up the cause of freedom and democracy. The Cuban people are the only people in this hemisphere that have not been able to elect a leader in more than 55 or 60 years. That’s outrageous.”

[Ravi: Well, my humble view is that US Sen. Rubio is taking too much of a hard line on this. I think, in today's world, USA (or any other country/institution) cannot really impose democracy on other sovereign countries. The people of those countries have to struggle for it if they desire it strongly. A revolutionary-type of imposition of democracy in some parts of the Arab world a few years ago (Arab Spring) does not seem to have worked out well. Let each country chart out its own form of governance and its own destiny.]

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