You're the greatest fighter for peace Biden tells pope

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 29 - US President Joe Biden and Pope Francis spoke for one and a quarter hours on Friday, a longer meeting than Francis's previous ones with US Presidents Donald Trump, 30 minutes in 2017, and Barack Obama, 50 minutes in 2014.
    Biden told Francis that "you are the greatest fighter for peace I have ever known," according to CNN.
    The president gave the pope a coin with the US seal on one side and that of Delaware on the other, the state of which Beau Biden, his elder son who died of cancer at the age of 49, was once attorney general.
    "My son would have wanted you to have this coin," Biden told the pontiff adding with a smile: "Tradition has it that if you don't have it at our next meeting, you'll pay for the drinks", bringing a laugh from the pope.
    There was "real feeling" between the pair during their talks, the White House said. The atmosphere at the talks was "very warm" and the two men laughed, it said.
    Climate, COVID, and migrants were the focus of the talks, the Holy See said.
    "During the cordial talks they focused on the common commitment in the protection and care for the planet, on the health situation and the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the issue of refugees and assistance for migrants," it said.
    "They also made reference to safeguarding human rights, including the right to religious freedom and freedom of conscience," the Holy See said.
    "The talks enabled an exchange of views on some issues pertaining to international current events, also within the framework of the imminent G20 summit in Rome, and the promotion of peace around the world via political negotiation".
    Biden replied to a question whether abortion had come up in the talks with Francis saying the pope told him he was happy he was a good Catholic and should continue to receive Communion, despite US bishops' criticism of his pro-choice stance.
    The US bishops will meet again in November to address a draft document on sacraments that according to many of them should warn Catholic politicians including Biden that they cannot receive communion due to their pro-abortion stance.
    Francis had urged the bishops not to proceed in order not to sow division.
    After the talks, Biden met with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
    Francis gave Biden, the second Catholic president to visit a pope after John F. Kennedy, a ceramic work titled The Pilgrim, as well as documents on his pontificate including his Message for Peace and his Document on Human Fraternity.
    Biden gave Francis a hand-made chasuble made in 1930.
    The White House said a donation of winter clothes will be made to charities in Pope Francis' name to thank him for this meeting on the occasion of the World Day of the Poor on November 14.
    The White House said ahead of the meeting it would address matters of global significance including ending the COVID-19 pandemic, tackling the climate crisis, and caring for the poor, according to the head of the Vatican press pool.
    Biden went into the Vatican to see Francis saying "thanks a lot, it's good to be back" and telling one of he officials greeting First Lady Jill Biden "I'm Jill's husband".
    Biden first visited the Vatican in 2016 a year after the tragic death of his son Beau from cancer.
    Biden, the 14th US president to meet with a pope at the Vatican, is meeting Francis, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Mario Draghi on Friday after landing in Rome overnight for this weekend's G20 summit.
    Security is tight in the capital for the summit and a 10-square-kilometer maximum-security zone is being set up in the EUR district in the south of the city where the summit will take place on Saturday and Sunday.
    Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose government is resisting pressure for emissions cuts to tackle the climate crisis, will not be present in person but will take part in the summit via video link.
    Russian President Vladimir Putin is also not coming in person. (ANSA).