US President Joe Biden has conferred the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction upon Pope Francis, the highest civilian award in the United States.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the White House confirmed that the president presented the award to the pope during a telephone conversation. The statement described Pope Francis as “the People’s Pope, a source of faith, hope, and love whose light shines brightly across the world.”
The White House also highlighted Pope Francis’ unwavering commitment to serving the poor and his role as a caring pastor, noting that he happily engages with children’s questions about God. The statement further mentioned the pope as a teacher who challenges the faithful to strive for peace and care for the planet. As the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, his leadership style sets him apart from his predecessors.
While President Biden had originally planned to travel to Rome this weekend to present the award in person, he cancelled his trip to focus on monitoring the wildfires in California, which have resulted in the tragic loss of 16 lives to date.
This marks the first occasion on which President Biden has awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction.
In a message to President Biden, Pope Francis expressed his sorrow over the destruction caused by the fires, offering condolences to those affected and emphasising his thoughts for the loss of life near Los Angeles.
