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President Joe Biden awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, on Saturday.
The medal was scheduled to be presented in person to the pope in Rome during what would be Biden’s last overseas trip as president, but Biden canceled his travel plans to monitor wildfires in California.
Instead, Biden presented the award to the pope in a telephone conversation during which they also discussed efforts to promote peace and alleviate suffering around the world.
“Pope Francis is unlike any previous pope,” the White House statement said. “Above all, he is the people’s Pope, a beacon of faith, hope and love that brightens the world.”
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Pope Francis speaks with President Joe Biden during an audience at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City, October 29, 2021. (Vatican Media via Vatican Pool)
The newspaper said it was the first time in his four-year term that Biden had awarded a medal for “meritorious service.”
Biden, 82, will retire from office on January 20th. Biden, a lifelong Catholic, was also the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award when he was honored by then-President Barack Obama in a surprise ceremony eight years ago when he was vice president. According to the Associated Press, this is the only time in President Obama’s two terms that he has awarded this version of the medal.
Massimo Fagioli, an Italian academic and professor at Villanova University and a follower of the pope, said both Mr. Biden and Mr. Francis have been weakened by world events.
“It’s very difficult to underestimate how tragic this moment is for both men in so many ways,” he said. “Because anything that can go wrong has gone wrong over the last few years.”
President Joe Biden leaves Holy Trinity Catholic Church in the Georgetown area of Washington, Sunday, August 27, 2023. (Andrew Harnik)
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Francis, 88, has pushed to open the church to the modern world since taking office in 2013. He has drawn criticism from some American Catholics for supporting abortion and other positions contrary to church teachings.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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