Former U.S. President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden are set to attend the funeral of Pope Francis this Saturday, according to a statement from Biden’s office shared with AFP. Their presence underscores a deep and personal connection with the late pontiff.
The Bidens will make the journey independently, not flying aboard Air Force One, which will carry President Donald Trump, who is also scheduled to attend the ceremony.
The Vatican has confirmed the attendance of approximately 50 heads of state and ten reigning monarchs for the high-profile funeral.
Biden, a practicing Catholic, has consistently voiced his respect and affection for Pope Francis. During his presidency, he held several public and private meetings with the pope and even kept a framed photograph of Francis in the Oval Office.
Toward the end of his term, Biden had intended to visit the Vatican to personally award Pope Francis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the highest civilian honor in the United States. Unfortunately, the trip was canceled due to destructive wildfires in Los Angeles.
This moment echoes a similar event in 2005, when then-President George W. Bush brought along former presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II.
READ ANOTHER RECENT STORY https://classic97.net/who-issues-guidelines-to-prevent-teen-pregnancy/
