Last Updated on 1 month by Ashley Michael
Former President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden will attend Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday, Biden’s office said, marking a personal tribute to the bond of faith and mutual respect.
The Joe Bidens will travel separately from President Donald Trump, who will also attend the funeral, and will not ride Air Force One.
The Vatican has confirmed that about 50 world leaders and ten reigning monarchs will be present, underscoring the global significance of the event.
Biden, a lifelong Catholic, has frequently spoken of his admiration for Pope Francis, with whom he has shared public and private meetings during his presidency. A portrait of the Pope has been displayed in the Oval Office throughout his presidency, a symbol of their relationship.
Biden had planned to visit the Vatican in January, near the end of his presidency, to award Pope Francis the Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor, but the Los Angeles fires forced him to cancel the trip.