WASHINGTON -- Ahead of Pope Francis’ long-awaited visit to the U.S. this week, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) argued on Sunday that the pope was “wrong” to promote the recent restoration of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
"I just think the pope is wrong," the Republican presidential hopeful told CNN's Jake Tapper. “The fact is that his infallibility is on religious matters, not on political ones.”
"I just happen to disagree with the pope on this one," added Christie, who is Catholic. In particular, he noted that the Cuban government granted political asylum to Joanne Chesimard, who was convicted of killing a New Jersey state trooper in the 1970s and has since changed her name to Assata Shakur.
“The fact is that, for me, I just believe that, when you have a government that is harboring fugitives, murdering fugitives, like Joanne Chesimard, who murdered a state policeman in New Jersey in cold blood, was broken out of prison, and has been harbored for the last 40-plus years by a Cuban government that has paid her and held up her as a hero, that this president could extend diplomatic relations with that country without getting her returned so she can serve the prison sentence that she was sentenced to by a jury of her peers in New Jersey is outrageous,” Christie said.
Pope Francis, who is currently visiting Cuba before heading to the U.S. on Tuesday, played a key role in encouraging leaders from both countries to end a decades-long standoff and open up diplomatic relations. Last year, he wrote letters to both President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro, inviting them to “resolve humanitarian questions of common interest.” Earlier this year, both countries reopened embassies in each other's capitals and the State Department announced plans to allow more Americans to visit Cuba.
In August, when Kerry presided over the reopening of the U.S. embassy in Havana, Christie blasted the decision. He also called for Chesimard, one of America’s most wanted fugitives, to return to the U.S.
On Sunday, one of Christie’s presidential rivals, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), also weighed in, saying “I have no problem with the pope,” though he did not specifically address the pontiff’s role in restoring U.S.-Cuban relations.
“On the economic issues, the geopolitical issues, the pope is just trying to bring people together. That's his role as a spiritual leader. And I respect that very much,” Rubio said on ABC’s “This Week.”
Rubio, whose parents are from Cuba, added that he would like Francis to meet with Cuban political dissidents on his visit and hopes that he “will discuss human rights and freedoms” in his remarks to the public.
In preparation for Francis’ visit, the Cuban government cracked down on dissident groups. On Sunday, Cuban police arrested several dissidents who were trying to approach the pope.