Official announcements from the White House or credible news outlets

Biden Awards Pope Francis Highest U.S. Civilian Honor After Canceled Vatican Trip

Jan 11, 2025, 11:00 PM

President Joe Biden has awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, the highest civilian honor in the United States. The White House announced that Biden presented the award to the pontiff during a phone call on Saturday, after a planned trip to Vatican City was canceled due to devastating fires in California. This is the first time during Biden's presidency that he has bestowed the medal with distinction, and Pope Francis is the only recipient during his term. Biden, a devout Catholic, expressed his personal admiration for the Pope, referring to him as the "People's Pope" and praising his humility, grace, and unparalleled love for all. The President highlighted Pope Francis's decades of service to the voiceless and vulnerable across Argentina, and his role as a "light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world." Pope Francis joins a select group of individuals who have received the medal with distinction, including Pope John Paul II and Biden himself.