White House says Biden will visit Pope Francis, Meloni in final international trip of his presidency

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will travel to Italy next month to meet with Pope Francis and top Italian officials for what is expected to be the final international trip of his presidency. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says Biden will meet with the Pope, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella during the Jan. 9-12 trip. Biden, a practicing Roman Catholic, last met privately with Francis earlier this year while in Italy for the Group of Seven leaders meeting. He also met with Francis at the Vatican in 2021, when they had a wide-ranging conversation about climate change, poverty and the coronavirus pandemic.