Pope Francis and Joe Biden, the outgoing President of the United States, held a phone conversation on December 19, 2024, discussing various issues with a significant emphasis on promoting peace during the Christmas season.
Biden expressed his gratitude to Pope Francis for his work in advocating for peace, human rights, and religious freedoms. In the dialogue, Pope Francis once again called for the abolition of the death penalty, emphasizing that “human dignity remains intact even when a person commits a grave crime.” This comment comes in light of recent appeals by the Vatican to reconsider capital punishment policies globally. Biden, in turn, accepted an invitation from Pope Francis for a visit to the Vatican in January 2025, marking what will likely be his last official international engagement before his term ends on January 20, 2025.
