Pope Francis Person of the Year

[erpowers]

Maybe Pope Francis should have been named the Time Person of the Year for a second year. In addition, maybe he should be nominated for and win the Nobel Peace Prize. Many are saying Pope Francis played a role in helping all of the things that happened today, regarding Cuba, get done.

[msongs]

1. call us when he sells the vatican art collection and uses the proceeds to help poor people nt

[joeglow3]

5. Why should they sell the art?

I would bet a small fraction of that art would have even survived until today if weren't for the church taking an interest in protecting it. Why should they be forced to sell it today and hope private citizens will preserve it? And why does their refusal to sell it negate all other things they do?

[Glassunion]

9. Does the Pope have that power?

My understanding is that the Vatican does not have "ownership" of the art located in the Vatican. From the pacts with Italy which worked out the sovereignty of the two states, it seems to imply they are held in trust, not owned.

[NaturalHigh]

2. I think there is a good chance he might be nominated for the Nobel.

In my opinion, he is more than deserving.

[el_bryanto]

3. What was his role, precisely? nt

[erpowers]

6. At the Least

At the very least Pope Francis pushed each side to get a deal done. I think he reached out to both President Obama and President Castro and encouraged them to get things done.

[el_bryanto]

7. I think that's possible too - but are there any reports of him doing that? nt

[Glassunion]

11. Yes.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2014/12/17/vatican-prime-player-in-u-s-cuba-thaw.html

[ucrdem]

4. Fidel went to a Jesuit high school

not sure about Raul ... anyway this is interesting, hadn't heard it before!

[bigwillq]

8. No, thank you (nt)

[Marrah_G]

10. No thank you