U.S. President Biden says Pope informed him he ought to hold receiving Communion

U.S. President Joe Biden stated on Friday that Pope Francis had informed him he ought to hold receiving Communion, amid fierce debate within the U.S. Church over Biden’s place on abortion.
Biden has come underneath stress from conservatives at residence and his most ardent critics within the U.S. Church hierarchy have stated he must be banned from receiving communion, the central sacrament of the religion.
Asked if the subject of abortion got here up throughout an extended assembly with pope within the Vatican earlier on Friday, Biden stated no. He stated the pope informed him he was glad he was Catholic and he ought to “keep receiving communion”.
The president, who goes to weekly Mass frequently and retains an image of the pope behind his desk within the Oval Office, has stated he’s personally against abortion however can not impose his views as an elected chief.

Last month, requested in regards to the U.S. communion debate, the pope informed reporters that abortion is “murder”. But he additionally appeared to criticise U.S. Catholic bishops for coping with the problem in a political quite than a pastoral approach.