Biden gives Pope Francis the Medal of Freedom in Washington

Biden gives Pope Francis the Medal of Freedom in Washington

Los Angeles, USA - The outgoing US President Joe Biden honored Pope Francis on January 12, 2025 with the highest civil award in the United States, the President's Medal of Freedom with distinction. In a moving message that bids published via X (formerly Twitter), he praised the Pope as "light of faith, hope and love", which shines globally. This award underlines Francis' commitment to the poor, peace and interreligious dialogue, as the White House's office emphasized. Joe Biden spoke to the Pope on a phone call to tell him the award after a planned visit to the Vatican was canceled due to devastating fires in California. According to Kathpress this was not the first medal of honor for a pope; As early as 2004, President George W. Bush awarded the medal to Pope John Paul II.

biden and Francis: Common values in focus

In an official statement by the White House, it was emphasized that Biden and Francis also talked about global peace efforts, in particular about the support of needy communities. This award is also the first medal of freedom with award that bids awards during his term in office, and marks the first papal reception since its meeting in June 2023, which took place in connection with the G7 summit. At that time, the two discussed, among other things, the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the effects of the Ukraine conflict. As NBC News This step is also accompanied by a deep political symbolism as bidies Catholic President of the USA applies in history.