Vatican, 12 November, 2020 / 7:17 pm (ACI Africa).
Presumptive President-elect Joe Biden spoke with Pope Francis on Thursday, his office has announced. The Catholic, former vice president, and presumptive next president was congratulated on his electoral victory by the pope on the morning of Nov. 12.
“President-elect Joe Biden spoke this morning with His Holiness Pope Francis. 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,” said a release from the Biden-Harris transition team.
“The president-elect expressed his desire to work together on the basis of shared belief in the dignity and equality of all humankind on issues such as caring for the marginalized and the poor, addressing the crisis of climate change, and welcoming and integrating immigrants and refugees into our communities,” said the release.
Several media outlets declared Biden the victor of the 2020 presidential election on November 7, although President Donald Trump has not yet conceded the race. Biden is the second Catholic to be elected president.
In a statement issued Nov. 7 by USCCB president Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles, the U.S bishops noted that “we recognize that Joseph R. Biden, Jr., has received enough votes to be elected the 46th President of the United States.”