History has a funny way of getting tangled up in our heads, especially when you mix the high-stakes world of D.C. politics with the ancient traditions of the Vatican. If you scroll through enough social media threads or half-remembered news clips, you might be convinced you saw Joe Biden sitting front and center at a papal funeral while he was still in the Oval Office.
But honestly? That never actually happened.
When Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passed away in early 2023, the world watched to see how the second Catholic president in American history would pay his respects. It seemed like a no-brainer that he'd be there. Yet, when the funeral mass began in St. Peter’s Square, Biden was nowhere to be found.
Instead, he was in Kentucky.
This sparked a firestorm of "why isn't he there?" commentary that still floats around today. To understand why Joe Biden at the pope's funeral became such a weirdly contentious topic, you have to look at the protocol, the security, and a very specific request from the late Benedict himself.
The 2023 "No-Show" that Wasn't a Snub
When Benedict XVI died on December 31, 2022, the Vatican was in uncharted territory. He wasn't a sitting pope; he was the "Emeritus." Because of that, the Vatican didn't want a massive, state-level circus. They wanted simplicity.
The Vatican officially invited only two state delegations: Italy and Germany (Benedict's home country). Everyone else? They told them to stay home or come "privately."
For a U.S. President, there is no such thing as "private."
Biden basically told reporters that his presence would have been a logistical nightmare. "The reason I’m not attending the funeral tomorrow is because it takes an entourage of a thousand people to show up," Biden said at the time. He wasn't exaggerating by much. When the President moves, the world stops.
He didn't want to be the guy who turned a "sober and simple" funeral into a high-security lockdown. He sent Joe Donnelly, the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, to represent the country instead. It wasn't a snub; it was actually Biden following the Vatican's specific request for a low-key event.
That Tense Exchange with Owen Jensen
You might remember a specific, somewhat "spicy" moment on the White House lawn. EWTN reporter Owen Jensen—who has a history of pressing Biden on Catholic issues—asked the President why he wasn't going.
✨ Don't miss: The Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin: Why Israel Never Really Recovered
Biden’s response was classic Joe: "You know why."
When Jensen pushed further, Biden clarified that he’d actually "inquired about" going but was told to keep it simple. It's a nuance that gets lost. People love a narrative where the Vatican "banned" him or Biden "refused" to go, but the reality was just boring, old-fashioned diplomacy and logistics.
The 2025 Shift: Joe Biden at the Funeral of Pope Francis
Fast forward to April 2025. The world was a very different place. Pope Francis, after years of health struggles, passed away at age 88.
This time, Joe Biden did attend. But there was a catch.
By the time the funeral for Pope Francis took place on Saturday, April 26, 2025, Joe Biden was no longer the President of the United States. He was a private citizen—well, a former president, which is never truly "private," but the security footprint was vastly different.
Seating and the "Cool Kids Club"
If you saw photos of Joe Biden at the pope's funeral in 2025, you might have noticed something jarring. He wasn't in the front row with Donald Trump or French President Emmanuel Macron.
He and Jill Biden were seated further back.
In the rigid world of Vatican protocol, your seat is determined by your current title. Since Biden was an "Ex," he was placed in the foreign dignitaries section, but behind the active heads of state. This led to a predictable wave of internet memes. Some critics claimed he was being "disrespected," while others noted he looked a bit frail, assisted by Jill and a priest as he navigated the steps of St. Peter's.
The truth is just Vatican rules. They don't care if you've been in politics for 50 years; if you don't have the "incumbent" badge, you’re moving back a few rows.
Why the Relationship with Francis Mattered
Biden’s attendance at Francis's funeral wasn't just about protocol. It was personal.
Throughout his presidency, Biden leaned on his relationship with Francis. They met in October 2021 at the Apostolic Palace, where Biden famously told reporters that the Pope called him a "good Catholic" and told him to keep receiving Communion. This was a massive deal back home, where some conservative U.S. bishops were literally debating whether to deny Biden the sacrament because of his stance on abortion rights.
Francis was Biden's "theological shield."
When Francis died, Biden’s tribute was deeply emotional. He called him "one of the most consequential leaders of our time." For Biden, Francis represented a version of Catholicism that was more about "social justice" and "mercy" than the culture wars. That’s why he made the trip in 2025, even if it meant sitting in the back.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception? Mixing up the two funerals.
- Benedict XVI (2023): Biden stayed home out of respect for the Vatican's request for "simplicity."
- Francis (2025): Biden attended as a former president, sitting several rows back from the current world leaders.
People also tend to invent drama about the "communion" issue at these events. At the 2025 funeral, there was no "scandal" at the altar. It was a massive, solemn liturgy focused on a man who had led the Church for over a decade.
Real Talk on the Logistics
If you've ever wondered why a president can't just "hop on a plane," consider this. A presidential visit to the Vatican involves:
- Armored limos (The Beast) flown in on cargo planes.
- Snipers on the colonnades of St. Peter's.
- Jamming equipment that messes with local cell towers.
- Hundreds of Secret Service agents.
For Benedict's funeral, which was supposed to be "simple," that would have been like bringing a rock band to a library. Biden made the right call by staying away in 2023.
Actionable Takeaways: How to Spot the Truth
When you see headlines about Joe Biden at the pope's funeral, keep these steps in mind to avoid being misled by the "outrage machine":
📖 Related: Preston County Obituaries Today: What Most People Get Wrong
- Check the Date: Is the article talking about 2023 (Benedict) or 2025 (Francis)? Most "Biden snubbed the Pope" stories are just confusing the two events or ignoring the Vatican's own requests.
- Verify the Capacity: Was he there as President or Former President? It changes everything from where he sits to who he talks to.
- Look for the "Why": The Vatican publishes "Notes of Information" for diplomats. If a leader doesn't attend, there's almost always a boring, logistical reason published in those notes that doesn't make it into a 15-second TikTok.
- Ignore the "Seating Drama": Diplomacy is a game of musical chairs. Being "in the back" usually just means you aren't the current boss. It’s not a personal insult; it’s just the manual.
If you really want to understand the intersection of faith and the presidency, stop looking at the seating charts and start looking at the policy overlaps. Biden and Francis were aligned on climate change and poverty, even as they clashed (silently) on other dogma. That's where the real story lives.