Pope Francis speaks during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican April 18. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) See POPE-AUDIENCE-NAME April 18, 2018.
Pope Francis, has spoken with the President-elect of the United States of America, USA, Joe Biden, via a telephone call, on Thursday, to offer him “blessings and congratulations” on his victory in the November 3, US Presidential election, the Democrat’s Transition Team said in a statement, Page 36 learnt.
Joe Biden is the second Catholic to be elected to the US Presidency, after John F. Kennedy, in 1960.
Biden’s office said: “The President-elect thanked His Holiness for extending blessings and congratulations, and noted his appreciation for His Holiness’ leadership in promoting peace, reconciliation, and the common bonds of humanity around the world.”
Joe Biden “expressed his desire to work together on the basis of a shared belief in the dignity and equality of all humankind on issues, such as caring for the marginalised and the poor, addressing the crisis of climate change, and welcoming and integrating immigrants and refugees into our communities”.
Recall, that Pope Francis has had a strained relationship with President Donald Trump, who was defeated in the election.
In early 2019, he called President Trump’s wall project on the US-Mexico border “madness”.
(AFP).
