Biden to Visit Pope Francis in Final Trip

Biden to Visit Pope Francis in Final Trip \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Joe Biden is expected to visit the Vatican next month to meet Pope Francis, likely marking the final international trip of his presidency. Biden’s past meetings with the Pope focused on climate change, poverty, and personal loss. While the visit is unconfirmed, it underscores Biden’s enduring relationship with the Vatican and shared priorities.

Biden’s Likely Vatican Visit: A Detailed Look

• President Joe Biden is expected to visit the Vatican next month to meet Pope Francis.
• The trip would likely be Biden’s final international journey before leaving office.
• White House and Vatican officials have not yet confirmed the visit.
• Biden has previously met Pope Francis, including a significant meeting in 2021.
• Their discussions have spanned global issues like climate change and poverty as well as personal topics.
• Biden’s support for abortion rights and same-sex marriage has sparked tensions with U.S. bishops.
• Pope Francis, however, referred to Biden as a “good Catholic” in 2021.
• Late-term foreign trips are rare; George H.W. Bush was the last president to make one.

Deep Look

The White House is reportedly preparing to announce that President Joe Biden will visit the Vatican next month to meet Pope Francis, in what is anticipated to be his final international trip as president. While the details of the visit remain unconfirmed, multiple sources familiar with the planning have indicated that discussions are underway.

This potential meeting would reflect Biden’s personal faith, longstanding ties to the Vatican, and his administration’s commitment to addressing global issues such as climate change and poverty.

A Rare Late-Term Trip

Overseas visits this late in a presidency are uncommon. The last U.S. president to travel abroad in the final month of his term was George H.W. Bush, who visited Moscow in January 1993 to sign a nuclear treaty and then traveled to Paris to discuss the Bosnian war with French President François Mitterrand.

If Biden’s Vatican visit proceeds, it would be a symbolic culmination of his presidency, highlighting his relationship with Pope Francis and his deep connection to his Catholic faith.

Biden’s Relationship with Pope Francis

Biden, a practicing Roman Catholic, has met Pope Francis several times during his political career. Their most notable meeting occurred in 2021, early in Biden’s presidency, when he visited the Vatican for a private audience. During their conversation, the two leaders discussed pressing global issues, including climate change, poverty alleviation, and the coronavirus pandemic.

The meeting also took a deeply personal turn, as Biden shared memories of his late son, Beau Biden, who passed away from cancer in 2015. Pope Francis offered words of comfort, and the two leaders even exchanged lighthearted jokes about aging.

Most recently, Biden and Pope Francis met privately earlier this year during the Group of Seven summit in Italy, where they reaffirmed their shared concerns about global challenges.

Tensions with U.S. Bishops

While Biden’s relationship with Pope Francis is warm, his support for abortion rights and same-sex marriage has placed him at odds with many U.S. Catholic bishops. Some have publicly argued that Biden’s policies conflict with Catholic teachings and have suggested he should be denied Communion.

However, after their 2021 meeting, Biden shared that Pope Francis referred to him as a “good Catholic” and encouraged him to continue receiving Communion. This moment was seen as a significant endorsement of Biden’s faith and a counterpoint to criticism from conservative elements within the Church.

Vatican Protocol and U.S. Deliberations

Neither the White House nor the Vatican has confirmed the visit. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni emphasized that it is standard policy to announce papal audiences with heads of state only a few days in advance.

Sources familiar with the discussions, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the Vatican meeting would likely serve as Biden’s final international engagement as president, adding significance to the event.

The Broader Context

The potential visit comes at a time when Biden’s presidency is drawing to a close, and it could serve as an opportunity to emphasize his administration’s achievements in global diplomacy and collaboration with the Vatican on shared priorities like climate action and poverty alleviation.

Biden’s faith has been a cornerstone of his political identity, shaping his approach to both domestic and international issues. A visit to the Vatican would underline the role his faith has played throughout his presidency while also strengthening the symbolic ties between the U.S. and the Vatican.

A Legacy of Global Engagement

If confirmed, Biden’s Vatican visit would be a fitting capstone to a presidency that prioritized multilateralism and global partnerships. It would also reinforce the enduring relationship between the Vatican and the United States, rooted in shared values and a commitment to addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

As Biden’s time in office comes to an end, this potential meeting with Pope Francis would not only highlight his personal faith but also serve as a reminder of the critical intersection between diplomacy, morality, and global leadership.

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