On this day in 1962: Pope excommunicates Fidel Castro

The last three pope have tried to make nice with Cuba. The current pontiff, Francis, the first pope from the western hemisphere, had a role in President Obama's decision to reestablish diplomatic relations with the communist dictatorship. 

But five popes back, John XXIII, now a saint of the Catholic Church, excommunicated Cuban strongman Fidel Castro on January 3, 1962. 

Castro forced many priests to leave Cuba--and many of those who stayed found themselves in "reeducation camps."