joining us now is former boston mayor ray flynn who knows a thing or two about what it takes to get a city back upnd running after a snowstorm. mayor, thank you for being with us. so this $500 million, put that into context for us. is that a lot or could it have been much worse? >> oh, it could have been much worse. i think the key to reducing that figure is getting the active involvement, support of the people of the city of boston or whatever community it is. i was out early this morning, 6:00, and i observed not only the city workers, state workers doing their job. the mayor and the governor did an exceptional job in terms of this challenge that they faced. but in facing this kind of crisis, a storm, there are certain things you have to have. one, you have to be lucky. two, you have to pray a lot. three, make sure you have the fiscally prudent people around you. but most importantly, you need the support of the public. that keeps the cost down. >> mr. mayor, when you say the support of the public obviously snow in the northeast is not new. you must will gone through a lot of simila

joining me from boston this morning is ray flynn. he's the former mayor of boston also the former u.s. ambassador to the holy city and in washington sister simone campbell the executive director at network a national catholic social justice lobby. mayor flynn, mrs. ambassador. it's been more than a year now. the end of 2014 comes with the pope playing a major role on the issue of cuba an opening between the united states and cuba. i guess my big-picture question about the pope has this been surprising to you? hos it beenhas it been surprising that this people he has been this active and this influential in global politics? >> he brings a unique perspective to the papacy. he's a very humble man and he's not afraid to speak out and he has a skill in communicating with people and his availability. those are all good trademarks that make a good communicator. but in your summary of pope francis' year steve, i think it's very important to point out that pope francis is neither conservative or liberal. and i know that politicians and the me