A long meeting, longer than the predecessors, 90 minutes. An atmosphere of great cordiality, which clearly reveals the climate of harmony between Francis and Joe Biden, the Catholic president object of the war of the American bishops for his “pro-choice” position on abortion. The Pope and Biden have not talked about it – said the president himself – but something has happened. “We only talked about the fact that he was happy that I was a good Catholic and that I continued to receive communion,” he added, referring to the initiative of the US bishops (they will meet in Baltimore in the next few days) to launch a document banning sacraments to politicians who pursue choices in favor of termination of pregnancy. A similar initiative had in fact been stopped by the Holy See in recent months, shortly after the presidential elections.
Biden to the Pope: “You are the greatest warrior for peace”
“You are the greatest warrior for peace I have ever met,” the president told Pope Francis during the meeting in the Vatican. Biden donated to the Pope a military coin with the seal of the United States on one side and that of Delaware on the other, the 261st unit “with which my son served,” explained the US president, saying that his late son Beau would have liked that “I would give you this gift”. And again: «It was an honor to meet Pope Francis again today in the Vatican. I thank His Holiness for his support for the poor of the world and for those who suffer from hunger, conflict and persecution ”.
Climate, refugees, Covid and migrants are also on the agenda
At the center of the talks – reports the Holy See – «the common commitment to the protection and care of the planet, the health situation and the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, the theme of refugees and assistance to migrants. Reference was also made to the protection of human rights, including the right to freedom of religion and conscience ”. The talks – the note continues – allowed an exchange of views “on some issues pertaining to international affairs, also in the context of the upcoming G20 summit in Rome, and the promotion of peace in the world through political negotiations”.
The meeting with Cardinal Parolin
Biden then met the Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, thanking him “for the active leadership of the Holy See in the fight against the climate crisis”, informs the White House. The two “discussed efforts to promote global support for Covid vaccination in the developing world.” The US president also thanked the Vatican “for making its voice heard on unjustly detained people, including in Venezuela and Cuba”. Biden and Parolin, the White House concludes, have pledged “to continue to use their voices to support personal and religious freedoms in the world.”