Pope Francis will have unusual clout in Cuba

(PHOTO: AFP)

When Pope Francis goes to Cuba in September, he will have a larger-than-usual influence over the Cuban government: he has been a champion of dialogue with the island’s regime and strong critic of the U.S. trade embargo since he authored a little-known book on Cuba in 1998.

The big question is whether Francis will use his clout to press Cuba to respect basic universal freedoms, or whether he will just make a symbolic stop on the island to celebrate the recent Vatican-brokered U.S.-Cuba normalization talks.

Among the reasons why the Argentine-born Pope could — if he decides to do so — have more clout with the Cuban regime than previous popes and most other world leaders who have visited the island:

First, Francis was a key behind-the-scenes broker of the U.S.-Cuban normalization talks first announced by President Barack Obama on Dec. 17, after more than five decades of hostile relations.

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