US President Biden, accompanied by his wife Jill, came to the Vatican for the first time since taking office to meet the Pope. The Pope and the President of the United States held a closed-door meeting at the Pontifical Building Library. Both sides emphasized their common commitment to fight against the epidemic and protect the planet, and paid particular attention to the current international situation in the context of the G20 summit.
(Vatican News Network) Pope Francis received US President Biden who was visiting the Vatican at noon on October 29. This is the first time Biden has come to see the Pope as President. He has seen Pope Francis three times before. Biden arrived in Rome on the night of October 28, preparing to participate in the Group of 20 (G20) summit in the city. The first lady of the United States Jill Biden (Jill Biden) is also walking with the president.
Biden is the second American president to be a Catholic after Kennedy. He immediately said after arriving at the Vatican, “Thank you very much, and I am very happy to be back here.” The President first came to the Sala del Tronetto to salute Pope Francis, and then went to the Pontifical Library with the Pope, where the two had a closed-door conversation. This meeting may be the longest to date between the Supreme Leader of the Catholic Church and the President of the United States. It lasted 75 minutes, far exceeding the 50-minute conversation between the Pope and President Obama in 2014.
The Holy See Press Room stated in a brief announcement that the two sides “drew in cordial talks in detail on their joint efforts in protecting and caring for the earth, health conditions and fighting the new crown epidemic, as well as refugee issues and assisting immigration.” And the protection of human rights, including the right to freedom of religion and conscience”. The announcement finally pointed out that during the talks, “exchanged views on a number of issues related to the current international situation, including the upcoming summit of the 20-nation summit and the promotion of world peace through political negotiations.”
After President Biden left the Vatican, the White House also issued an announcement stating that the President “thanks to the Pope for his support to the poor and those suffering from hunger, war and persecution in the world”. President Biden “praised Pope Francis for his leadership in fighting the climate crisis and his efforts to ensure that everyone can share vaccines to end the epidemic and a fair global economic recovery.”
After the meeting, the Pope and President Biden exchanged gifts and greeted the 10-member US delegation, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. Afterwards, Biden met with Cardinal Palolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, and Archbishop Paul Richard, Secretary-General of the Department of State and State Relations of the Holy See.
Among the gifts presented by the Pope to President Biden is a ceramic painting depicting a pilgrim standing on the embankment of the Tiber River pointing at St. Peter’s Basilica. In addition, there are several documents, including the 2021 World Peace Day Proclamation signed by the Pope, the Human Brotherhood Document signed with the Great Imam of Azhar in Abu Dhabi, and the publication of the Vatican Bookstore Publishing House. The “World Convergence” prayer album contains the most beautiful photos of the Pope leading the world in prayer on March 27, 2020, during the worst period of the epidemic.
Biden’s gift to the Pope was a hand-stitched sacrificial garment with flower petals and fruit embroidery. It was made by a famous tailor in 1930 and used by Jesuits in the United States at that time. This sacrificial garment is housed in the historical archives of the Holy Trinity Church of the Catholic Church where Biden often visits. It is an important church in Washington and has played an important role in supporting the abolition of apartheid and fighting for civil rights since 1787. . At the same time, the White House also pledged to donate winter clothes to charitable organizations in the name of Pope Francis on the occasion of World Poor People’s Day on November 14 in order to thank him for this meeting.
According to US media reports, Biden also gave the Pope a Delaware military coin. His eldest son, Beau Biden, who served in the state, died of brain cancer in 2015 at the age of 49. At that time, the Pope had expressed his care for this sad incident. On the opportunity of attending the World Family Conference, he met some members of the Biden family at the Philadelphia Airport to express condolences and pray with them. When President Biden handed the coin to the Pope, he said, “You are the greatest peace fighter I have ever seen” and that his son would like him to give this gift to the Pope.
From 1919 to the present, a total of 6 popes have received the President of the United States in the Vatican. They are: Benedict XV, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis. The last three have also held formal meetings with American leaders in the United States.
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