Faith is a funny thing in politics. For Joe Biden, it’s always been more than a talking point or a photo op. It’s the rosary around his wrist and the quiet Saturday vigils. But when it comes to the heavy-hitting moments of Vatican history—the funerals of the men who lead the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics—the optics get complicated fast.
People were genuinely confused in early 2023. Why wasn't the second Catholic president in American history at the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI? Then, fast forward to 2025, and we saw a very different scene with the passing of Pope Francis.
Honestly, the "Joe Biden at the pope's funeral" saga isn't just about travel schedules. It’s about a messy, deeply personal intersection of Roman Catholic tradition, high-stakes diplomacy, and the sheer logistical nightmare of moving a U.S. President across the globe.
The 2023 "No-Show": Benedict XVI and the Simple Goodbye
When Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passed away, the world expected the usual "funeral of the century" vibes we saw for John Paul II. But Benedict was an emeritus pope. He’d resigned. That changed everything.
The Vatican was incredibly clear: they wanted it simple. Only two official state delegations were invited—Italy and Germany. That was it. Biden actually wanted to go. He even checked with the Vatican about it. But the message coming back from Rome was essentially, "Please don't."
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Biden told reporters at the White House that his presence would have required an "entourage of a thousand people." He wasn't exaggerating much. A presidential visit involves C-17s, armored limos, and enough Secret Service agents to fill a cathedral. He literally said, "We would just get in the way."
Instead, Joe Donnelly, the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, went in his place. It wasn't a snub; it was an act of obedience to a dead man's wishes for a "sober" ceremony.
2025: The Emotional Farewell to Pope Francis
Things were completely different on April 26, 2025. When Pope Francis passed, it wasn't just a state event for Biden; it was the loss of a personal friend.
If you remember, Francis was the one who comforted the Biden family after Beau Biden died in 2015. That kind of thing sticks with a person. Biden made sure he was there for the funeral at St. Peter's Square.
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It was a striking image. Biden, now 82 and in the final months of his term, was assisted by Jill Biden and a priest as he navigated the steps of the basilica. It felt like a bookend to his political career. Despite the "culture wars" back home with some American bishops over his stance on reproductive rights, his bond with Francis remained the defining relationship of his Catholic life.
Why These Funerals Matter for U.S. Policy
You might think these are just religious services, but they are actually massive diplomatic summits.
- The Power of Presence: When a President shows up, it signals that the Vatican is a "soft power" heavyweight that the U.S. takes seriously.
- The Unofficial Meetings: The real work happens in the hallways and at the luncheons. Presidents use these moments to talk to other world leaders who are also in town for the service.
- Domestic Signals: For a guy like Biden, being seen at a papal funeral is a way to speak to the "Catholic vote" in the Midwest without saying a word.
A Tale of Three Popes
Biden’s history with the papacy goes way back. He met John Paul II in 1980 when he was just a young senator. He met Benedict as Vice President. But it was Francis who really "got" him.
There’s a great story about Biden meeting Benedict in 2011. He reportedly told the Pope to "lighten up" on American nuns. That’s the Biden brand—he’s a "Vatican II Catholic," optimistic and a bit prone to speaking his mind, even to a guy who is supposedly infallible.
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What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that Biden didn't go to Benedict’s funeral because they didn't get along. Sure, they were on opposite ends of the theological spectrum. Benedict was the "God's Rottweiler" conservative; Biden is a liberal Democrat.
But Biden actually spoke very highly of Benedict, calling him a "fine man" and reminiscing about their chats on Thomas Aquinas. The decision to stay home in 2023 was purely about respecting the Vatican’s request for a low-key event.
Actionable Takeaways for the Curious
If you're following the intersection of the White House and the Vatican, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Ambassador: If the President isn't there, the Ambassador to the Holy See is your primary signal for how the administration is handling things.
- Look for the "Private" Remarks: The official White House readouts are boring. The real gold is in the unscripted comments the President makes to reporters on the South Lawn before he gets on Marine One.
- Check the Delegation List: Who the President sends in his place tells you a lot. Is it a cabinet member? A family friend? A religious leader?
The saga of Biden at these funerals shows that being a "Catholic President" is a tightrope walk. You have to balance personal faith, international protocol, and a domestic audience that is constantly looking for a reason to criticize you. In the end, his presence (or absence) was always a deliberate choice in a very long, very complicated game of "holy diplomacy."
Next Steps to Deepen Your Understanding:
- Research the history of the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See to see how this role has evolved since 1984.
- Look up the official delegation lists for the funerals of John Paul II versus Francis to see how the scale of diplomacy has shifted.
- Analyze the White House statements released during papal transitions to track the shift in tone between different administrations.