Pope Francis

“We can’t keep doing the same thing for five decades and expect a different result. It’s time for a new approach. We will end an outdated approach that failed to advance our interests and instead begin to normalize relations between our countries.”

It takes courage to accept failure. U.S. President Barack Obama has shown the world that he can learn from the facts and abandon a long-failed policy – because U.S. policy toward Cuba has been a disaster, a remnant of the 20th century. The president’s actions this week set the stage: No more 20th century obstacles to U.S. policy making.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes U.S.-Cuba thaw

BELGRADE -- Serbia "welcomes the historic U.S.-Cuba agreement on a humanitarian release of prisoners and opening a new chapter in the relations between the two countries."

The Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued this statement on Friday.

The United States and Cuba made a historic breakthrough in their Cold War stand-off Wednesday, moving to revive diplomatic ties and launch measures to ease a five-decade US trade embargo.

In the wake of a prisoner exchange, President Barack Obama said the United States was ready to review trade ties and to re-open its embassy in communist Cuba that has been closed since 1961.

Speaking after his whirlwind recent visit to Turkey, Pope Francis said he prays for the country to build a place “of peaceful coexistence between different religions and cultures.”

Speaking after his whirlwind recent visit to Turkey, Pope Francis said he prays for the country to build a place “of peaceful coexistence between different religions and cultures.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan keeps hosting very important heads of state who want to see all Muslims dead – last week, the guest was Pope Francis and this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Pope Francis has voiced his hope for the opening of the Turkey-Armenia border, during a flight back to Rome after a three-day visit to Turkey.

The pope voiced hope that gestures over the coming anniversary year of the 1915 incidents would bring the two nations closer together, and he specifically voiced hope that Turkey would open its border with Armenia.

Pope Francis on Nov. 30 issued a strong pledge of support for the embattled Christians of the Middle East and urged an end to the millenium-old schism between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, as he wrapped up his first visit to Turkey.
      
The trip of the pope to Istanbul has been marked by attempts to reach out both to Muslims and other Christian confessions.

Pope Francis wrapped up his three-day visit to Turkey on Nov. 30 with a liturgy alongside the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians and a meeting with young refugees who have fled Syria, Iraq and other conflict zones.