By Jeff Mason and Philip Pullella
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – US President Joe Biden said on Friday that Pope Francis told him he is a “good Catholic” who can receive Communion, widening the gulf between Francis and conservative bishops. US opposing this because of Biden’s support for abortion rights.
Biden and the pope held an unusually long meeting of 1 hour and 15 minutes at the Vatican as a debate unfolds in the United States on the controversial issue.
Asked if the issue of abortion was raised, Biden said: “No, it wasn’t. We just talked about the fact that he was happy that I was a good Catholic and that I should continue to receive Communion,” Biden told reporters.
The president, who attends Mass weekly and keeps a photo of the pope behind his desk in the Oval Office, said he personally opposes abortion but cannot impose his views as an elected leader.
In June, a conference of US Catholic bishops voted to draft a statement on communion that some bishops say should specifically rebuke Catholic politicians, including Biden. They will come back to the issue next month.
But the pope’s comments to Biden, who revealed them at the start of a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, could make it difficult for bishops to follow through on his plans.
Asked whether he and the pope discussed the US bishops, Biden said “it’s a private conversation.”
Biden’s most ardent critics in the US church hierarchy charged the pontiff before the visit.
“Dear Pope Francis, you boldly stated that abortion is ‘murder.’ Please question President Biden on this critical issue. His persistent support for abortion is an embarrassment to the Church and a scandal to the world,” tweeted Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island.
After the meeting, Tobin tweeted: “I’m afraid the Church has lost its prophetic voice. Where are the John the Baptists who will face the Herods of our day?”, apparently comparing Biden to King Herod, who beheaded the preacher John for criticizing the king’s sins.
Last month, the pope told reporters that abortion is “murder” but appeared to criticize US Catholic bishops for handling the issue politically rather than pastorally.
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