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President Biden, left, gifted Pope Francis a special coin during a meeting in Rome on Friday
President Biden was asked a range of questions by journalists at his G20 news conference, and became visibly moved while answering one about his debates and splits within Catholicism and his personal relationship with Pope Francis.
“Pope Francis has become – I don’t want to exaggerate – someone who has provided great solace for my family when my son died,” he told the media.
The president said he lost “the real part of his soul” when his son Beau died in 2015, and recounted a story of how, days after Beau’s death, Biden met the Pope during a visit to the US while working under then-President Barack Obama.
“Before he left and got on the plane, the Pope asked whether or not he could meet with my family and we met in a hanger in Philadelphia airport,” Biden said – adding the meeting had a “cathartic impact” for his family.
“He’s just a fine, decent, honourable man and we keep in touch,” he added, before leaving the stage. (BBC)
