The Vatican declined to comment Friday on U.S. President Joe Biden’s statement that Pope Francis encouraged him to keep receiving Holy Communion during a private audience. The Vatican, which has a long-standing policy of not commenting on specific statements attributed to the pope during private meetings, emphasized that the encounter between the two men on Oct. 29 was “a private conversation.” Matteo Bruni, the director of the Holy See press office, told reporters: “I would consider it a private conversation, and it is limited to what was said in the public statement.”

By Simon Caldwell — catholicherald.co.uk — US President Joe Biden has boasted how the Pope gave him his blessing to continue receiving Holy Communion because he was a “good Catholic” – in spite of an outcry over his record of support for abortion. Speaking to reporters after his first Vatican visit as US president, Mr Biden said he and the Holy Father did not discuss abortion once during a conversation which lasted an estimated 90 minutes. “We just talked about the fact he was happy I was a good Catholic and I should keep receiving Communion,” President Biden said. The revelation is bound to inflame sentiments among many Catholics, including some US bishops, who believe it is a public scandal for Mr Biden to continue to receive the sacrament given his support for liberal abortion policies.

At their November meeting, the US bishops will be considering the application of Canon 915 of the Code of Canon Law which forbids Holy Communion to those who “obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion”. They intend to address the problem of Catholic politicians – like President Biden and Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi – who support and advance programmes, policies and laws for abortion while claiming to be devout Catholics and presenting themselves regularly for Holy Communion. The bishops are divided among themselves about to what extent they should intervene publicly with politicians who publicly dissent from fundamental aspects of faith and morals. Mrs Pelosi has repeatedly clashed with Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco over her position, for instance. Earlier this year, however, she announced that she was “pleased” with a Vatican letter to the US bishops which she claimed had instructed the bishops not to be “divisive” on the issue of abortion.

Archbishop Cordileone disputed her interpretation of its contents, arguing instead that the Vatican was in fact promoting “dialogue” between bishops and pro-abortion politicians “to help them understand the grave evil they are helping to perpetrate and accompany them to a change of heart”. After meeting the Pope at the Vatican, President Biden was also asked by reporters if he had discussed the activities of the American bishops. “That’s a private conversation,” he replied during questions at Palazzo Chigi where he met Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi later in the day.

According to CNN, President Biden said he did not receive Holy Communion during his visit to the Vatican, but added that the Pope had blessed his rosary. A Holy See Press Office statement described the talks as cordial talks and revealed that they concentrated on “their common commitment to the protection and care of the planet, the health situation and the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the issue of refugees, and how to provide assistance for migrants”. “Both parties also spoke about the protection of human rights, including the right to freedom of religion and conscience,” the statement said. “Finally, the talks enabled an exchange of views on some matters regarding the current international situation, also in the context of the G20 summit in Rome, and on the promotion of peace in the world through political negotiation,” it added.

A statement released by the White House said that “President Biden thanked His Holiness for his advocacy for the world’s poor and those suffering from hunger, conflict, and persecution”. “He lauded Pope Francis’ leadership in fighting the climate crisis, as well as his advocacy to ensure the pandemic ends for everyone through vaccine sharing and an equitable global economic recovery,” it said. Mr Biden, the second Catholic president in American history, was in Rome to attend the G20 summit taking place on October 30-31. (Photo by Vatican Media via CNA)