President Joe Biden is set to travel to Italy in January to meet with Pope Francis.
Biden will also meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Italian President Sergio Mattarella during the trip from Jan. 9 to 12. The trip will be Biden's last foreign trip before he leaves office on Jan. 20.
Biden and the Pope will meet to "discuss efforts to advance peace around the world," press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
"He will also meet with Italy's leaders to highlight the strength of the U.S.-Italy relationship, thank Prime Minister Meloni for her strong leadership of the G7 over the past year, and discuss important challenges facing the world," Jean-Pierre said.
Biden last met with the Pope in June during the G7 meetings. He also met with the Pope in 2021 when conservative Catholic bishops debated whether he should receive communion, despite his pro-choice stance. Biden said Pope Francis supported him receiving communion.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops later adopted a document on communion without mentioning whether Biden or other politicians should be denied the rite based on their stance on abortion, the Hill reported.
In 2015, Biden met with Pope Francis after his son, Beau, died. The Pope spoke to the Bidens about Beau, Biden said.