President Joe Biden offered a Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction on Saturday to the chief of his personal church, Pope Francis.
Biden praised the Catholic chief for being a “gentle of religion, hope, and love that shines brightly internationally” in a social media post in regards to the award.
“Pope Francis, your humility and your grace are past phrases, and your love for all is unparalleled,” Biden wrote.
The citation printed on the pope’s Presidential Medal of Freedom certificates highlights comparable themes, arguing that “his mission of serving the poor has by no means ceased.”
“Pope Francis is in contrast to any who got here earlier than,” the quotation says.
Non secular leaders with Medals of Freedom
Pope Francis is the third pope to be awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom, america’ highest civilian honor, and the second to obtain the award with distinction.
Different spiritual leaders who’ve obtained Medals of Freedom embody the Rev. Billy Graham and President Gordon B. Hinckley of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Biden’s announcement about Pope Francis comes per week after he handed out 18 Medals of Freedom in a ceremony on the White Home. George Romney was amongst these honored on Jan. 4, because the Deseret News reported.
Biden himself obtained the President Medal of Freedom with distinction eight years in the past simply earlier than he and former President Barack Obama left workplace.
The pope is the one particular person to obtain the award from Biden with distinction.
Biden and the pope
Biden was purported to current the award to Pope Francis in particular person on Saturday, however he cancelled his journey to the Vatican amid the wildfire disaster in California.
What would have been a cheerful assembly grew to become a telephone name, per The Associated Press.
“The White Home stated Biden bestowed the award to the pope throughout a telephone name wherein additionally they mentioned efforts to advertise peace and alleviate struggling all over the world,” the article stated.
Biden and the pope have met a number of instances since Francis was elected to the highest function within the international Catholic Church in 2013, together with throughout Biden’s first stint within the White Home as vp. They have been collectively in June 2024 when each appeared at G7 Leaders’ Summit in Italy.
Past viewing the pope as a fellow political chief, Biden noticed Francis as an ethical adviser.
The 2 spoke final month days earlier than Biden commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 folks on federal loss of life row, per The New York Times.
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