Manoeuvre: No Mass for Biden
U.S. President Joe Biden's attendance at Francis’ morning Eucharist has been nixed from an early plan, CatholicNewsAgency.com (June 14) was told by a “reliable” Vatican source.
Biden who is presently in Europe, is taking off the morning of June 15 to meet Francis and had requested to attend Francis’ Eucharist.
Francis declined after considering the impact it would have had on the discussions of the US bishops, who plan to discuss "Eucharistic coherence" at their meeting a day later.
His tactic of promoting one side by playing both sides would have been thwarted by Biden receiving communion from him.
U.S. Vice President Biden met Francis when he attended the September 2015 Philadelphia World meeting of Families and during an April 2016 Vatican summit on regenerative medicine.
Biden who is presently in Europe, is taking off the morning of June 15 to meet Francis and had requested to attend Francis’ Eucharist.
Francis declined after considering the impact it would have had on the discussions of the US bishops, who plan to discuss "Eucharistic coherence" at their meeting a day later.
His tactic of promoting one side by playing both sides would have been thwarted by Biden receiving communion from him.
U.S. Vice President Biden met Francis when he attended the September 2015 Philadelphia World meeting of Families and during an April 2016 Vatican summit on regenerative medicine.