Biden Won’t Represent U.S. At Benedict’s Funeral, Per ‘Wishes Of The Late Pope’

President Joe Biden was not invited to Thursday’s funeral of Pope Benedict XVI, and the U.S. ambassador to Italy will represent America at the pontiff’s burial, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday.

It was unclear if Biden was not invited or if he was simply ignoring the invitation. Biden is a Catholic, but he is an avid supporter of abortion. Jean-Pierre claimed that the situation was consistent with the wishes and intentions of the late pope.

“The U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Joe Donnelly, will represent the United States at the funeral of the Pope, in line with the wishes of the late Pope and the Vatican,” Jean-Pierre said. “This is what — this is what their requests were. This is what their wishes were.”

Benedict, a German-born Benedict, was killed on December 31st at 95 years old. He was 95 years old when he resigned as pope, and Pope Francis succeeded him. However, he still holds the title of pope-emeritus.

According to the report, only two nations had delegations that were invited by the government: Germany and Italy. Euro News. Matteo Burni, Vatican spokesperson stated. “If other heads of state or government come, they will do so in a personal capacity.”

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will attend Pope Benedict’s funeral, as will Queen Sofia of Spain and King Philippe of Belgium. The President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Andrzej Duda of Poland will also be there

Jean-Pierre claimed that Biden was an admirer Benedict who he had known for more than a decade.

“So, as the President said in his statement, as I’m sure you saw, he joins Catholics and so many others around the world in mourning the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI,” Jean-Pierre said. “He will always remember the Pope’s generosity and meaningful conversation they had when he visited the Vatican in 2011.”

Biden’s support for abortion has angered fellow Catholics, including in September of 2021, when he condemned the U.S. Supreme Court for declining to stay After six weeks, a Texas law banned most abortions. It was struck down by the Texas High Court in December 2013. Roe v. Wade.

In October 2019, Biden was denied communion at a Catholic Church in South Carolina. Father Robert Morey of Saint Anthony Catholic Church in Florence said that he declined Biden communion “any public figure who advocates for abortion places himself or herself outside of Church teaching.”

“Holy Communion signifies we are one with God, each other and the Church. Our actions should reflect that,” Morey said, “Moreover, “As a priest, it is my responsibility to minister to those souls entrusted to my care, and I must do so even in the most difficult situations. I will keep Mr. Biden in my prayers.”

Jean-Pierre insisted Wednesday that Biden was a man of faith.

“Look, you know, the President, as you know, he takes his faith very seriously,” She told reporters. “This is someone who is passionate about his faith.  That’s not something I even need to tell you; you know this for yourself.”

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