US President Joe Biden and Pope
Francis spoke for one and a quarter hours on Friday, a longer
meeting than Francis's previous ones with US Presidents Donald
Trump, 30 minutes in 2017, and Barack Obama, 50 minutes in 2014.
Biden told Francis that "you are the greatest fighter for peace
I have ever known," according to CNN.
The president gave the pope a coin with the US seal on one side
and that of Delaware on the other, the state of which Beau
Biden, his elder son who died of cancer at the age of 49, was
once attorney general.
"My son would have wanted you to have this coin," Biden told the
pontiff adding with a smile: "Tradition has it that if you don't
have it at our next meeting, you'll pay for the drinks",
bringing a laugh from the pope.
There was "real feeling" between the pair during their talks,
the White House said. The atmosphere at the talks was "very
warm" and the two men laughed, it said.
Climate, COVID, and migrants were the focus of the talks, the
Holy See said.
"During the cordial talks they focused on the common commitment
in the protection and care for the planet, on the health
situation and the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, as well
as the issue of refugees and assistance for migrants," it said.
"They also made reference to safeguarding human rights,
including the right to religious freedom and freedom of
conscience," the Holy See said.
"The talks enabled an exchange of views on some issues
pertaining to international current events, also within the
framework of the imminent G20 summit in Rome, and the promotion
of peace around the world via political negotiation".
Biden replied to a question whether abortion had come up in the
talks with Francis saying the pope told him he was happy he was
a good Catholic and should continue to receive Communion,
despite US bishops' criticism of his pro-choice stance.
The US bishops will meet again in November to address a draft
document on sacraments that according to many of them should
warn Catholic politicians including Biden that they cannot
receive communion due to their pro-abortion stance.
Francis had urged the bishops not to proceed in order not to sow
division.
After the talks, Biden met with Vatican Secretary of State
Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
Francis gave Biden, the second Catholic president to visit a
pope after John F. Kennedy, a ceramic work titled The Pilgrim,
as well as documents on his pontificate including his Message
for Peace and his Document on Human Fraternity.
Biden gave Francis a hand-made chasuble made in 1930.
The White House said a donation of winter clothes will be
made to charities in Pope Francis' name to thank him for this
meeting on the occasion of the World Day of the Poor on November
14.
The White House said ahead of the meeting it would address
matters of global significance including ending the COVID-19
pandemic, tackling the climate crisis, and caring for the poor,
according to the head of the Vatican press pool.
Biden went into the Vatican to see Francis saying "thanks a
lot, it's good to be back" and telling one of he officials
greeting First Lady Jill Biden "I'm Jill's husband".
Biden first visited the Vatican in 2016 a year after the
tragic death of his son Beau from cancer.
Biden, the 14th US president to meet with a pope at the
Vatican, is meeting Francis, Italian President Sergio Mattarella
and Premier Mario Draghi on Friday after landing in Rome
overnight for this weekend's G20 summit.
Security is tight in the capital for the summit and a
10-square-kilometer maximum-security zone is being set up in the
EUR district in the south of the city where the summit will take
place on Saturday and Sunday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose government is resisting
pressure for emissions cuts to tackle the climate crisis, will
not be present in person but will take part in the summit via
video link.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is also not coming in
person.
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