President Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction to Pope Francis on Saturday, granting one of many nation’s highest honors to a determine he referred to as “the People’s Pope.”
“Pope Francis, your humility and your grace are beyond words, and your love for all is unparalleled,” Mr. Biden wrote on X. “You are a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world.”
Mr. Biden honored the pontiff throughout a weekend by which he was scheduled to satisfy with the pope in particular person on the Holy See. The president, nevertheless, canceled the three-day journey to Italy to coordinate the federal response to raging wildfires in Los Angeles, based on a White Home assertion.
Relatively than the same old award ceremony, by which the president locations the award across the neck of the recipient, Mr. Biden posted on X a picture from the Oval Workplace by which a navy aide offered the medal. The White Home introduced the glory after Mr. Biden spoke to Pope Francis on Saturday and knowledgeable him of the award.
It was the primary time throughout Mr. Biden’s time period that he had awarded the medal “with distinction,” a extra prestigious model of the glory. Mr. Biden obtained the popularity from President Barack Obama in 2017. Different recipients embrace Pope John Paul II and Colin L. Powell.
Mr. Biden, a Catholic, has seen Pope Francis as an admired ally on the worldwide stage and turned to him as a sounding board, and the pope has lobbied for Mr. Biden to make use of his presidential energy throughout his last weeks in workplace.
Final month, Pope Francis referred to as Mr. Biden and requested him to commute the sentences of these on federal dying row. Days later, Mr. Biden used his clemency energy to melt their sentences to life in jail with out the potential of parole, sparing their lives.
A quotation included within the White Home announcement for the award stated that Pope Francis was “unlike any who came before.”
“His mission of serving the poor has never ceased,” the assertion learn. “A loving pastor, he joyfully answers children’s questions about God. A challenging teacher, he commands us to fight for peace and protect the planet. A welcoming leader, he reaches out to different faiths.”
Mr. Biden awarded the glory days after bestowing the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 18 leaders of the political, monetary and movie star institution.
