Pope Francis played key role in U.S.-Cuba deal

Pope Francis played a key role in finalizing a deal to open relations between the United States and Cuba for the first time in 53 years, according to a U.S. official.

While discussions took place in Canada over the last year and a half, a key meeting also happened at the Vatican in the fall. Aside from President Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro, the pontiff was the only other foreign leader directly involved in the talks, said a senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the talks publicly.

Francis' support was particularly important given Cuba's historical and cultural Catholic identity, the official said, and his election as the first-ever pope from Latin America gave him particular credibility.