Biden expected to see pope on last overseas trip of presidency: report
What’s New
President Joe Biden is expected to see Pope Francis on what is likely to be the last overseas trip of his presidency, three unnamed sources familiar with the matter told The Associated Press (AP) in a story published Thursday.
The trip is scheduled for next month, according to the sources.
Why It Matters
Biden is expected to leave office in just a few weeks and an international trip like this isn’t common this late into a U.S. presidency.
The last president to travel internationally in the final month of his presidency was the late George H.W. Bush. In early January 1993, Bush, a Republican, visited Moscow to sign a nuclear treaty and Paris to meet with then-President François Mitterrand of France about the Bosnian war, U.S. Department of State records show.
Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images
What To Know
The AP’s sources said that the White House is expected to soon announce Biden’s upcoming trip to the Vatican. When the AP asked about the potential visit, White House officials declined to comment.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni also declined to comment any visit, noting that Vatican policy is only to announce meetings between the pope and heads of state a few days before they occur.
Biden’s Past Meetings With Pope Francis
Biden saw Pope Francis in June during a private meeting on the sidelines of the G7 (Group of Seven) summit in Italy. The two discussed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and emphasized the need for an immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas. Biden also thanked Pope Francis for the Vatican’s work to address the humanitarian impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The president also visited the Vatican in 2021 to discuss climate change, poverty and the COVID-19 pandemic with Pope Francis. On a more personal note, the two also talked about the loss of Biden’s adult son Beau, who died of cancer in 2015.
Is Biden Catholic?
Biden is a practicing Roman Catholic but has supported abortion rights and same-sex marriage, putting him at odds with many U.S. bishops. Some of those bishops have suggested that Biden should be denied Communion.
Following Biden’s visit to the Vatican in 2021, the president said Pope Francis called him a “good Catholic” who should keep receiving Communion.
What Happens Next
President-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated on January 20, 2025, meaning Biden only has about a month to make this trip to the Vatican happen.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
