President Joe Biden awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction, recognizing him as a beacon of faith and hope. Although Biden planned to present the medal in person in Rome, he canceled due to California wildfires and instead honored the pope via phone. This was Biden's only presentation of the medal with distinction during his presidency. The citation highlighted the pope's commitment to serving the poor and promoting peace. Biden has awarded the fewest medals compared to his predecessors and recently honored 19 individuals for their contributions. Teljes cikk (Euronews.com)