WASHINGTON − President Joe Biden has informed Congress of his intention to take Cuba off the United States’ list of state sponsors of terrorism. This decision is seen as a gesture of goodwill aimed at aiding the release of political prisoners.

On Tuesday, the administration announced that it completed its review and found no evidence to justify Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.

A government official who spoke with reporters said that Biden’s decision was influenced by the Catholic Church’s efforts to negotiate an agreement with Cuba for the humanitarian release of many individuals who are wrongfully imprisoned. This agreement is expected to include several people who were detained during protests against the Communist regime in 2021. Although the official couldn’t specify how many prisoners would be released, they noted that the Biden administration anticipates these releases happening fairly soon.

The Catholic Church has been directly communicating with the Cuban authorities, the official mentioned. The Vatican has kept the Biden administration updated on potential actions Cuba may take.

Earlier this week, Biden had a phone conversation with Pope Francis, which strengthened the administration’s confidence in the ongoing dialogue. Following their discussion, he awarded the Pope with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction.

An administration official stated that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also requested Biden to remove the state sponsor of terror designation. Biden and Lula met during the Group of 20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro last November. Additionally, both the Colombian and Canadian governments have urged the U.S. to take Cuba off the terror list.

It’s important to note that the designation of a state sponsor of terrorism does not hinge on the status of political prisoners. The U.S. categorizes countries as state sponsors of terrorism based on their persistent support for international terrorist organizations.

The Trump administration added Cuba to the state sponsors of terror list just days before leaving office in 2021, and it has remained there during Biden’s tenure. Currently, only three other countries—Syria, Iran, and North Korea—are also on this list maintained by the State Department.

Being designated as a state sponsor allows the U.S. government to impose restrictions on foreign aid, prohibit defense exports and sales, and apply other financial sanctions, as per the State Department. It also grants the federal government the power to impose penalties on countries and individuals involved in trade with those listed nations.

In a letter to Congress on Tuesday, Biden mentioned that his administration found no evidence of Cuba’s support for international terrorism in the last six months, and the Cuban government has assured it won’t engage in such activities in the future.

Senator Marco Rubio, Trump’s choice for Secretary of State, has been a critic of increased U.S. engagement with Cuba’s government and played a significant role in shaping Trump’s Cuba policy. Rubio is scheduled to appear before the Senate on Wednesday and is expected to receive confirmation without difficulty.

The outgoing administration indicated that it had been in touch with Trump’s transition team regarding its plans and that both Congress and the new president would have a chance to review Biden’s decision. An official underscored that Trump’s team would be working based on the same information available to them.

(This article was updated to include additional information.)