Religion: Preparing for the Pope in Cuba & Reflections on Violence (LP9112015)

Religion in Latin America provides the theme this week on "Latin Pulse," as Cuba prepares for an official visit from Pope Francis. The program analyzes the importance of the pope's upcoming trip to Cuba and reflects on how the Cuba trip will provide a preface for the pope's visit to the United States. The program also reviews a new book that deals with how religion is fighting violence throughout Latin America, especially Central America. The news segment of the program reviews the results in the first round of the Guatemalan presidential voting and the upset of comedian Jimmy Morales. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Andrew Chesnut of Virginia Commonwealth University; and Alex Wilde of American University's Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. The logo for Pope Francis’ trip to Cuba is from the Archdiocese of Havana and is in the public domain. Produced for release on Sept. 11, 2015.