In his final month in office, President Joe Biden will travel to Vatican City for a meeting with Pope Francis. The White House confirmed the visit, scheduled for January 10th, following a phone call between the two leaders. This audience with the Pope will focus on global peace initiatives. In addition to the papal meeting, Biden's four-day trip to Italy will include discussions with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella, centering on the strong U.S.-Italy relationship and key global challenges. The visit coincides with the end of Italy's G7 presidency.

This visit comes shortly after the commencement of the Vatican's Holy Year, a significant event attracting pilgrims from around the world. As only the second Catholic U.S. president, Biden has a history of meetings with Pope Francis and other pontiffs throughout his career. Their discussions have covered a range of critical issues, including the conflicts in Israel and Ukraine, emphasizing the need for ceasefires and humanitarian aid.

Previous meetings between Biden and Pope Francis have also touched on climate change and global pandemic recovery. While the two leaders share common ground on many issues, their differing views on abortion remain a point of contention. Despite this, Biden has stated that the Pope supports his continued reception of Holy Communion.

This trip is anticipated to be Biden's last overseas visit as president. It's a relatively uncommon occurrence for a president to travel abroad during their final month, with the last instance being George H.W. Bush's diplomatic trips to Moscow and Paris.