President Joe Biden Awards Pope Francis the United States' Highest Civilian Honor, 'Medal of Freedom'

President Joe Biden Awards Pope Francis the United States' Highest Civilian Honor, 'Medal of Freedom'

Washington, January 12 – U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Pope Francis on Saturday and awarded him the 'Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction,' the nation's highest civilian honor, the White House announced.

This is the first time during Biden's four-year tenure that the medal has been awarded "with distinction." The 82-year-old Biden is set to leave office on January 20. He canceled his trip to Rome this week, where he was scheduled to meet Pope Francis in person, to oversee the federal response to the wildfires in California.

Praising the pope's efforts to alleviate poverty, Biden said, "Pope Francis' compassion and relentless service to humanity inspire millions around the world."

Pope Francis greeted a child at the Jubilee audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, which took place on the same day Biden announced the honor.