Biden awards Pope Francis highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom, over the phone

President Joe Biden on Saturday awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

The medal was scheduled to be presented to the pope in person in Rome during what was to be Biden’s last foreign trip of his presidency, but Biden canceled his travel plans so he could monitor the forest fires in California.

Instead, Biden presented the award to the pope during a phone call in which they also discussed efforts to promote peace and alleviate suffering around the world.

“Pope Francis is different from all those who came before,” a White House announcement read “Above all, he is the Pope of the People, a light of faith, hope and love that shines throughout the world.”

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Pope Francis meets with President Joe Biden during an audience at the Apostolic Palace on October 29, 2021 in Vatican City, Vatican City. (Vatican Media via Vatican Pool)

It was the first time during his four years in office Biden awarded the medal “with distinction,” he said.

Biden, 82, leaves office on January 20 lifelong catholic he has also received the award with distinction, recognized when he was vice president by then-President Barack Obama in a surprise ceremony eight years ago. This was the only time in Obama’s two terms that he awarded this version of the medal, according to the Associated Press.

Both Biden and Francis have been weakened by global events, said Massimo Faggioli, an Italian academic and professor at Villanova University who follows the papacy.

“It’s very hard to understate how tragic this moment is for both men in different ways,” he said. “Because what could go wrong went wrong in these few years.”

President Joe Biden leaves Holy Trinity Catholic Church in the Georgetown section of Washington on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (Andrew Harnik)

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Francis, 88, has pushed to open the Church to the modern world since taking the helm in 2013. He has drawn criticism from some American Catholics for his support for abortion and other positions contrary to the teachings of the ‘Church.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.