Pope Francis is just days away from an historic visit to Cuba and the United States. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen spoke to NBC 6 on Tuesday about his visit.
She may not agree with everything the Pope says or his stance on everything, but nonetheless, she knows him traveling to Cuba and U.S. is a big deal.
Ros-Lehtinen hopes when Pope Francis arrives in Cuba, that somehow he can help the people there, "The people of Cuba don't have anything and at least they can hear the Pope and receive his message of hope."
Though she says deep down, under the Castro regime, that probably won't happen, "The Popes come and the Popes go, but the misery remains."
Being a native of Cuba, she added the only way real change will come to the island nation is through installing a capitalist society.
"Although I left when I was a young girl, I had a taste of life under non-capitalist systems," she said.
It's no secret Pope Francis has been outspoken at times against our economic system.
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When he leaves Cuba for the U.S. to speak as the first standing Pope, at a joint session of Congress, he'll probably say a lot of things our lawmakers won't like.
"He's in favor of more engagement with the Castro regime. He's in favor of the Iranian deal," Ros-Lehtinen said.
But according to Ros-Lehtinen, this could be a mix of conversation inside the capitol that could get people thinking.
"It's a strange mix because it's the world of politics and the world of classical religion." And she says no doubt this Pope has done that.
"He's getting young people enthused about the catholic church. He's looking at unwed mothers in a different way. He's looking at divorced parents in a different way."
The congresswoman said more than anything, the Pope can learn a little more what the U.S. stands for during his first visit.
"That being capitalist doesn't mean you look down on poor people. It means you can help poor people because you have the means to do so."
