Official announcements from the White House, major news outlets

Biden Bestows Rare Medal of Freedom with Distinction on Pope Francis

Jan 11, 2025, 08:45 PM

President Joe Biden has awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, the highest U.S. civilian honor, marking a significant recognition of the pontiff's global influence and humanitarian efforts. The White House announced that Biden spoke with Pope Francis and praised him as "a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world," referring to him as "the People's Pope." This rare honor, bestowed only around a dozen times, signifies Biden's deep personal admiration for the Pope. Previous recipients of the Medal with Distinction include General Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Earl Warren, Colin Powell, Sandra Day O’Connor, George H.W. Bush, and Biden himself. Pope Francis joins previous pontiffs who have received the award, including Pope John XXIII in 1963 and Pope John Paul II in 2004. Biden had planned a trip to the Vatican, which was canceled due to devastating fires in California, making the award presentation a significant gesture in the final days of his presidency.