US President Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro took a major step towards erasing one of the last stains of the Cold War.  With one phone call from Havana to the White House they agreed to resume diplomatic relations after more than 50 years of official silence.

“It does not serve America’s interests or the Cuban people to try to push Cuba towards collapse,” President Obama said in a noon hour address to the American people on his decision to reverse five decades of failed policy.  “Even if that worked – and it hasn't for 50 years – we know from hard-earned experience that countries are more likely to enjoy lasting transformation if their people are not subjected to chaos.”

Simultaneously, Raul Castro addressed the Cuban people, highlighting the roles played by Pope Francis, who brought the parties together.

“I wish to thank and acknowledge the support of the Vatican, most particularly the support of Pope Francisco in the efforts for improving relations between Cuba and the United States.  I also want to thank the Government of Canada for facilitating the high-level dialogue between the two countries,” said Raul. 

The two will reopen embassies in Washington, DC and Havana, and they’ll begin working on tighter cooperation on mutual interests such as terrorism, drug-trafficking, and emergency management.  The increase in travel and commerce in and out of Cuba will mean Cuban and American banks will work together, and Americans will be able to use their credits cards on the island.

In American, the announcement was largely greeted with approval.  Polls show 56 percent of Americans favor ending the embargo of their neighbor just 90 miles to the south of Florida.  Some in Miami’s Cuban-American community were not happy, after investing five decades of their lives in seething hatred of the Castro brothers.  Younger Cuban Americans who don’t feel like carrying on their abuelito’s cold war were more enthusiastic.

In Havana, you couldn’t find opponents.  Celebrations were largely organized by the government, but they didn’t need to be.  People have long wanted the US travel bans gone, want US goods to come into the country, and look forward to seeing long-lost relatives who fled to Florida.