Biden Awards Pope Francis With Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction

TL/DR –

President Joe Biden awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, one of the highest U.S. honors. This awarding was done virtually due to Biden canceling his trip to Italy to address wildfires in Los Angeles. The Pope has been an influential figure in Biden’s presidency, providing counsel and recently prompting Biden to commute the sentences of those on federal death row.

President Biden Awards Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction to Pope Francis

President Biden has granted the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction to Pope Francis over the weekend, acknowledging him as “the People’s Pope”. Biden praised the Pope for his unparalleled humility, grace and universal love.

The award was given during a weekend when Biden was anticipated to visit Pope Francis at the Holy See. However, the president aborted the three-day trip to Italy to face the escalating crises of wildfires in Los Angeles, as per a White House statement.

Deviant from the traditional award ceremony, Biden posted a picture from the Oval Office showing a military aide presenting the medal. The honor was announced by the White House after Biden informed Pope Francis about the award via a phone call.

Biden Awards First Medal ‘with distinction’

This is the first time in his term that Biden has awarded the medal “with distinction”, an elevated version of the honor. Noteworthy previous recipients of this honor include Pope John Paul II, Colin L. Powell and Biden himself, who received it from President Barack Obama in 2017.

The Relationship Between Biden and Pope Francis

As a Catholic, Biden sees Pope Francis as a crucial ally on the global stage and often refers to him for advice. Last month, Pope Francis requested Biden to commute the sentences of those on federal death row. In response, Biden utilized his presidential clemency power to modify their sentences to life imprisonment without parole.

The White House’s award announcement also included a citation recognizing Pope Francis as “unlike any who came before”. The citation hailed his dedication to serve the poor, his teachings for peace and environmental protection, and his outreach to diverse faiths.

Other Recent Honorees

Prior to this, Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 18 prominent figures in politics, economics, and entertainment.

—
Read More US Political News