Cuban Leader Castro Thanks Pope Francis for Helping Repair Ties With US

© REUTERS / Gregorio Borgia/poolCuban President Raul Castro and Pope Francis
Cuban President Raul Castro and Pope Francis - Sputnik International
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Raul Castro visited the Vatican after attending the Victory Day Parade in Moscow and was given an hour-long private audience by the pontiff.

Pope Francis waves as he delivers a Urbi et Orbi message from the balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 5, 2015 - Sputnik International
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ROME (Sputnik) — Cuban leader Raul Castro has thanked Pope Francis for helping the Caribbean nation to restore diplomatic relations with the United States, local media reported Sunday.

A historic warming of Cuba-US relations, dubbed the Cuban Thaw, began in December 2014 as the two countries look to reopen respective embassies in Havana and Washington for the first time in more than 50 years.

"I thanked His Holiness for his contribution to the restoration of relations between Cuba and the United States," Castro said after the audience as quoted by the Tgcom24 television channel.

Castro visited the Vatican after attending the Victory Day Parade in Moscow and was given an hour-long private audience by the pontiff.

Pope Francis is set to become the third head of the Catholic Church to travel to Cuba when he pays an official visit to the communist state in September.

Cuba's relations with the European Union have also improved recently as EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini visited Havana in March.

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