Obama speaks with Castro ahead of visit from Pope Francis

President Obama spoke on the phone Friday with Cuban President Raúl Castro to discuss their efforts to normalize relations after a half-decade of hostility. 

The conversation came ahead of Pope Francis’s visit to the U.S. and Cuba next week. The pontiff played a key role in brokering last December’s détente between the former Cold War enemies. 

“The president underscored the importance of the United States and Cuba re-establishing diplomatic ties and the reopening of embassies in our respective countries,” the White House said in a statement. “The two presidents commended the role that Pope Francis has played in advancing relations between our countries.”

Earlier Friday, the Obama administration announced new steps to chip away at the Cuban embargo, one of the major obstacles in the way of fully normalizing ties with Havana. 

The changes allowed certain U.S. businesses to establish offices in Cuba, lifts a limit on the amount of money that can be sent to Cuba and further eases travel restrictions. 

Francis has called on the U.S. to lift the nearly 55-year-old embargo, which would require an act of Congress. But most Republicans and some Democratic lawmakers oppose that move, fearing it would strengthen Castro’s government, which continues to repress its citizens. 

While Obama and Castro agree the embargo should be lifted, the U.S. has continued to express concern about Castro’s tough restrictions on free speech and assembly. Political opponents are frequently beaten and jailed. 

“The leaders discussed steps that the United States and Cuba can take, together and individually, to advance bilateral cooperation, even as we will continue to have differences on important issues and will address those differences candidly,” the White House said. 

Obama’s last known conversation with Castro was in April at an international summit in Panama. The two leaders are scheduled to attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York later this month, but the Cuban government has said no formal meeting is planned.