Pope Francis encourages the U.S. and Cuba to keep improving relations

Pope Francis arrived in Havana on Saturday for the start of a nine-day tour through Cuba and the U.S. Speaking to a crowd gathered at José Martí International Airport, he lauded the two nations' efforts to resume diplomatic ties, and pushed Presidents Obama and Castro to go even further, The Associated Press reports.

"I urge political leaders to persevere on this path and to develop all its possibilities as a proof of the high service which they are called to carry out on behalf of the peace and well-being of their peoples, of all America, and as an example of reconciliation for the entire world," he said.

The pope, who wants the U.S. to lift its trade embargo against Cuba, played a role in renewing relations, which had been severed during the Cold War.

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Pope Francis will head to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday and New York City and Philadelphia later in the week.