President Joe Biden awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, on Saturday from the White House after he missed a scheduled trip to the Vatican in order to monitor the wildfires that have been raging across Southern California.

President Joe Biden presented a Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction on Saturday to the leader of his own church, Pope Francis. Biden praised the Catholic leader for being a “light of faith,

Pope Francis is receiving the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, the country's highest civilian honor, the White House confirmed Saturday.