Pope Seeks Help For Cuban Migrants Stranded In Central America

Pope Francis urged Central American governments Sunday to find a speedy solution to help thousands of U.S.-bound Cuban migrants stranded on the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. About 5,000 Cubans are estimated to be on the border.

Nicaragua has refused to let the growing number of Cubans attempting to reach the U.S. who have become stuck in Costa Rica pass through its territory.

Speaking from his window overlooking St. Peter's Square in Vatican City to ten of thousands of people gathered for his Sunday blessing, Francis said many of those stranded were victims of human trafficking. "I ask the countries of the region to generously resume efforts to find a quick solution to this humanitarian drama," he said.

Central America and Mexico have seen a surge in migrants from the Communist-ruled island as the process of a detente between Washington and Havana raises the prospect that current U.S. asylum rights for Cubans may soon end.

Last week, the Nicaraguan government proposed that the American government organize an airlift to take the migrants directly from Costa Rica to the U.S. The Costa Rican government has tried to convince both Belize and Guatemala to allow the Cubans passage to reach Mexico..

The plight of migrants is expected to be a main topic of Francis' trip in February to Mexico, where he will say Mass at Ciudad Juarez within yards of the border with Texas.

Earlier Sunday, Francis celebrated Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for families in Rome marking the Roman Catholic Church's jubilee year.