Biden awarded Francis the Medal of Freedom, calling him the "People's Pope."

On January 11, President of the United States Joe Biden held a conversation with Pope Francis and awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction. This is the highest civilian honor in the U.S.

This was reported by RBK-Ukraine citing the White House.

The phone call between the American president and the pontiff took place today, January 11.

The White House noted that this nomination of Francis marked the first instance during Biden's four-year term when he awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom "with distinction".

Typically, this highest civilian award in the U.S. is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the States, global peace, or other important public, governmental, or private initiatives, as explained by Biden's office.

According to Biden, as a young man, Jorge Bergoglio (Francis's name before the papacy) "sought a scientific career before faith led him to a life with the Jesuits." After that, he served as a priest in Argentina for decades.

The U.S. President described Francis as a loving pastor, teacher, welcoming leader, and a "people's" Pope.

"A loving pastor, he joyfully answers children's questions about God. A complex teacher, he urges us to fight for peace and protect the planet. A welcoming leader, he reaches out to various faiths. The first Pope from the Southern Hemisphere, Pope Francis is unlike any who came before him. Above all, he is a people's Pope—a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly around the world," Biden said.

According to Reuters, a week ago Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, chef José Andrés, and environmentalist Jane Goodall.

The 82-year-old Biden, a regular churchgoer, later in life distanced himself from church doctrine by supporting abortion rights. In 2021, he stated that Francis defended him against criticism from some American Catholics on this issue, particularly from many bishops.

As previously reported, U.S. President Biden planned to visit Italy this week, where he was supposed to meet, among others, with the Pope. However, due to the raging wildfires in the States, the head of the White House was forced to cancel the trip.

Additionally, at the end of December 2024, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, mentioned that Pope Francis accepted the invitation to visit Ukraine. However, the date of the visit is still unknown.