Vatican City, Dec 18 (IANS/EFE) Pope Francis Thursday welcomed the decision of the US and Cuba to take steps towards normalizing relations, noting that “we are all happy to see how two peoples who had been distant for years have moved a step closer”.

US sources credit the Vatican and Pope Francis personally for acting as go-between in organising secret talks and facilitating the breakthrough that could begin to thaw over half a century of frosty hostility between Cuba and the US.

That this was possible was thanks to the efforts of ambassadors and international diplomacy, the first Latin American pontiff commented during a Vatican ceremony Thursday at which several new ambassadors presented their credentials to the Holy See.

Pope Francis highlighted the role of diplomacy in solving conflicts, noting that taking small steps towards achieving one’s goals is the best way to achieve peace and approach the hearts of people.

Diplomacy “is a very lofty, noble work”, the pontiff said.

On Tuesday, Cuba agreed to the release of US citizen Alan Gross, imprisoned in the island for subversive acts for five years; and Washington freed three jailed Cubans convicted of espionage.

Both US President Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro thanked the Pope separately for his support in bringing about the rapprochement between the two countries.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi revealed Wednesday that Pope Francis made the initial overtures to both Castro and Obama, “inviting them to find solutions to humanitarian issues, such as the situation of certain prisoners, so as to start a new phase in their relationship”.