President Biden awarded the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to Pope Francis on Saturday.

The honor specifically came "with distinction," becoming the first person to receive the added level of honor by Biden.

In a statement, the White House commended Pope Francis for his commitment to serving the poor, as well as advocating for peace and protecting the planet.

"A loving pastor, he joyfully answers children's questions about God. A challenging teacher, he commands us to fight for peace and protect the planet. A welcoming leader, he reaches out to different faiths. The first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, Pope Francis is unlike any who came before," the statement read.

It concluded: "Above all, he is the People's Pope - a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world."

Biden is the second Catholic president in U.S. history. But unlike John F. Kennedy, who was known for downplaying his faith, Biden has embraced it.

Pope Francis is the third pope to receive the medal. Pope John XXIII was posthumously recognized by President Lyndon Johnson in 1963, and Pope John Paul II was honored by President George W. Bush in 2004.

To read the complete article, see:
Biden awards Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction(https://www.npr.org/2025/01/11/nx-s1-5256937/biden-pope-francis-medal-of-freedom)

Mr. Biden honored the pontiff during a weekend in which he was scheduled to meet with the pope in person at the Holy See. The president, however, canceled the three-day trip to Italy to coordinate the federal response to raging wildfires in Los Angeles, according to a White House statement.

Rather than the usual award ceremony, in which the president places the award around the neck of the recipient, Mr. Biden posted on X an image from the Oval Office in which a military aide presented the medal. The White House announced the honor after Mr. Biden spoke to Pope Francis on Saturday and informed him of the award.

To read the complete article, see:
Biden Awards Medal of Freedom to Pope Francis(https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/11/us/politics/biden-medal-of-freedom-pope-francis.html)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
BIDEN AWARDS MEDAL OF FREEDOM(https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n01a24.html)