President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction, the nation’s highest civilian honor, to Pope Francis on Saturday.
The medal was scheduled to be introduced to the pope in particular person in Rome throughout what was to be Biden’s last abroad journey of his presidency, however Biden canceled his journey plans so he may monitor the wildfires in California.
As a substitute, Biden bestowed the award on the pope throughout a telephone name wherein additionally they mentioned efforts to advertise peace and alleviate struggling around the globe.
“Pope Francis is not like any who got here earlier than,” a White House announcement reads. “Above all, he’s the Folks’s Pope – a light-weight of religion, hope, and love that shines brightly internationally.”
Pope Francis meets with President Joe Biden throughout an viewers on the Apostolic Palace on Oct. 29, 2021, in Vatican Metropolis, Vatican. (Vatican Media by way of Vatican Pool)
It was the primary time throughout his 4 years in workplace that Biden awarded the medal “with distinction,” it mentioned.
Biden, 82, leaves workplace on Jan. 20. The lifelong Catholic can be a recipient of the award with distinction, acknowledged when he was vp by then-President Barack Obama in a shock ceremony eight years in the past. That was the one time in Obama’s two phrases when he awarded that model of the medal, based on the Related Press.
Each Biden and Francis have been weakened by world occasions, mentioned Massimo Faggioli, an Italian educational and professor at Villanova College who follows the papacy.
“That’s actually laborious to underestimate how tragic this second is for each males in several methods,” he mentioned. “As a result of what may go improper did go improper in these few years.”
President Joe Biden leaves Holy Trinity Catholic Church within the Georgetown part of Washington on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (Andrew Harnik)
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Francis, 88, has pushed to open the Church to the fashionable world since he took the helm in 2013. He has drawn criticism from some U.S. Catholics for his help of abortion and different positions which might be opposite to Church teachings.
The Related Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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