“AN HONOUR”
Both Biden and the pope have been outspoken on the need to tackle global warming – Francis repeated his call for action in a BBC broadcast on Friday – and this was a dominant theme of their talks.
“I thanked His Holiness for his advocacy for the world’s poor and those suffering from hunger, conflict and persecution, and lauded his leadership in fighting the climate crisis and ending the pandemic,” the president tweeted later.
He said that the meeting, part of which was with his wife Jill, had been “an honour”.
The Vatican said they discussed climate change, the pandemic and the issue of refugees and migrants, as well as “the protection of human rights, including freedom of religion and conscience”.
There was no mention from either side of the red-button issue of abortion. Biden supports the right to choose, while Francis, 84, has slammed terminating pregnancies as “murder”.
The pontiff has nonetheless distanced himself from a push by conservative US bishops to deny communion to politicians supportive of abortion rights – which would include Biden.
Biden headed afterwards for talks with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and French President Emmanuel Macron, before the G20 summit kicks off on Saturday morning.
Shortly before leaving Washington, Biden unveiled a “historic” blueprint for remaking America’s economy, a US$1.75 trillion Build Back Better social welfare package on which he has staked his domestic legacy.
He had hoped to secure the deal before leaving, but it has been dogged by weeks of internal party feuding – it remains to be seen if the revamped deal will gain the support of lawmakers.
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