Biden to seek ‘comfort’ from Pope – NYT

The outgoing president is planning to visit the Vatican in January, likely his final international trip as US leader

US President Joe Biden is set to visit the Vatican in January to seek solace and “relief” as his term draws to a close, according to the New York Times, citing sources close to the matter. The White House has confirmed that Biden accepted an invitation from Pope Francis during a phone call last week.

With less than a month remaining in his presidency, Biden will also meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden and Pope Francis will discuss global peace efforts. The New York Times reported, however, that the visit may also serve a more personal purpose, offering comfort as he prepares to leave office.

Pope Francis has reportedly been a confidant for Biden, exchanging occasional phone calls that have been quite casual, including “friendly check-ins.”

The upcoming meeting signals that Biden may have additional concerns weighing on him, the New York Times said.

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In public, he has alluded to regrets about certain decisions, including not signing Covid relief checks personally. He has also faced scrutiny for more recent actions, including pardoning his son Hunter Biden. The decision sparked significant criticism, with some viewing it as a reversal of his earlier commitments not to interfere in his son’s legal matters. Despite the backlash, there have been no reports or official statements from the president expressing regret over the pardon.

Biden, a devout Catholic, has shared a longstanding connection with Pope Francis. Their previous conversations touched upon both personal and global issues, spanning topics such as climate change, poverty, and deeply personal matters, including the loss of Biden’s son Beau in 2015.

Foreign trips during a US president’s final month in office are not common. According to State Department records, the last president to do so was George H.W. Bush in January 1993. He traveled to Moscow to sign a nuclear treaty and to Paris for discussions on the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.