Topline
Pope Francis on Thursday turned the most contemporary in a string of world leaders congratulating Joe Biden on his projected victory in the 2020 election, even as President Trump and a handful of world leaders have refused to acknowledge him as President-elect.
Pope Francis shakes fingers with US Vice President Joe Biden as he celebrates a special audience with … [+] participants at a congress on the event of regenerative treatment and its cultural impression in the Paul VI hall in Vatican City, Vatican on April 29, 2016.(Photo by Giuseppe Ciccia/NurPhoto via Getty Photos)
Key Facts
Biden had a phone call with Pope Francis Thursday morning, all the device in which thru which he “thanked His Holiness for extending blessings and congratulations,” per a readout of the option released by the Biden transition crew.
Biden additionally praised the pope’s “leadership in promoting peace, reconciliation, and the common bonds of humanity across the sector” and expressed a necessity to work with him on points love poverty, local weather change and immigration.
Pope Francis is the most contemporary in a protracted and growing checklist of world leaders who’ve acknowledged Biden’s victory, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Top Minister Boris Johnson and Israeli Top Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Finest a handful of main world leaders have held out on congratulating Biden, a lot like Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin – who’re viewed as U.S. adversaries – and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, one among Trump’s closest international allies.
The pope’s call is of explicit significance given Francis’ cool relationship with President Trump – who touted the endorsement of an archbishop who known as on Francis to resign – and Biden’s position as easiest the 2nd Catholic to spend the presidency, after John F. Kennedy.
