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AGI – Pope Francis called President-elect Joe Biden, acknowledging the victory that Donald Trump refuses to accept. Barring surprises, the Democrat, with the inauguration on January 20, will become the second Catholic tenant in the White House after John F. Kennedy. “The president-elect thanked His Holiness for his blessing and congratulations,” he read a note from the Biden-Harris transition team, “and expressed appreciation for His Holiness’s leadership in promoting peace and reconciliation, and for the common ties of humanity in the world “. The former deputy of Barack Obama expressed to the Pope his desire to work to carry forward the shared values about the “dignity and equity of all humanity”, also addressing the climate crisis and the issue of the reception and integration of migrants and refugees.
Pope Francis is the ninth world leader to personally congratulate Biden, then, among others, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The call was confirmed by director of the press office of the Holy See, Matteo Bruni. “We thank God for the blessing of freedom – said Monsignor Gómez – The American people spoke out in these elections. Now is the time for our leaders to come together in a spirit of National unity and prepare for dialogue and commitment for the common good. As Catholics and Americans, our priorities and mission are clear. We are here to follow Jesus Christ, to bear witness to his love in our lives, and to build his kingdom on earth. I believe that at this time in American history, Catholics have a special duty to be peacemakers, promote brotherhood and mutual trust, and pray for a renewed spirit of true patriotism in our country. ” The conversation between Bergoglio and Biden follows the greeting of the American bishops who, through a message from the president of the Episcopal Conference, the Archbishop of Los Angeles José H. Gómez, had congratulated the president-elect.
Relations between Pope Francis and Trump have never been idyllic. Already during the 2016 presidential elections, when the Pope criticized Trump’s rhetoric against immigrants and the need to build a barrier on the border with Mexico, the tycoon responded by pointing a finger at a Vatican, in his opinion, “all surrounded of walls “. “.
More recently, the US administration, through the mouth of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, challenged the Church over the agreement with China on bishops. In addition, on October 26, the Pope named among the 13 new cardinals the Archbishop of Washington DC, Wilton Gregory, the first African-American cardinal, who did not hesitate in the hot days of the Black Lives Matter protests, on the eve of the US elections. to publicly attack Trump.
