Pope Francis becomes the latest international leader to speak with Joe Biden and congratulate him on becoming the President-elect. Biden’s transition team issued a statement today, saying in part:
“The President-elect expressed his desire to work together on the basis of a shared belief in the dignity and equality of all humankind on issues such as caring for the marginalized and the poor, addressing the crisis of climate change, and welcoming and integrating immigrants and refugees into our communities.”
The New York Times writes, “The call holds particular significance for Mr. Biden, a lifelong Catholic and only the second Catholic to occupy the White House, after President John F. Kennedy.”
NPR adds:
Known as a deeply devout person of faith, Biden often delivers speeches with references to biblical language or the pope.
In the final week of the presidential campaign, for example, Biden quoted an anti-populism passage from the pope’s most recent encyclical.