The U.S. presidents have genuinely had a warm relationship with the Pope, even if they don’t always see eye-to-eye on issues, including marriage equality and abortion rights. Over the years, the First Families have made official visits to the Vatican and the welcome mat has been rolled out for the Pope’s trips to the White House over the years.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden just made their first visit since they’ve moved into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, which was an extraordinary moment because it’s been over 50 years since a Roman Catholic president met with the leader of the Catholic Church. Biden gave Pope Francis a command coin in honor of his late son, Beau Biden, who served in the military, telling the Pontiff that the coin is “warriors and leaders.” He complimented Pope Francis by calling him “the most significant warrior for peace I’ve ever met,” per ABC News.
While this looked like quite the amicable visit, things were a little more heated when Donald Trump visited Pope Francis in 2017 because they were far apart on issues close to the pontiff’s heart: climate change and immigrant rights. The Guardian called the Trump family’s visit “somber” with “a glum-looking pope” presiding over the visit. (Take a look at the evidence and decide for yourself.)
But don’t miss all of the beautiful moments between our presidents and the Pope — especially the sweet image with the Carter family and Pope John Paul II, it will make your heart melt.
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, 1962
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy met with Pope John XXIII during a visit to the Vatican in 1962.
President Kennedy, 1963
Pope Paul VI met with President Kennedy, the United States’ first Catholic president, only months before he passed away in 1963.
President Johnson, 1965
The trip had major protocol problems because Pope Paul VI was a chief of a state not officially recognized by the U.S. at the time, so President Johnson flew to New York for dinner at the apartment of his friend Arthur Goldberg, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, to meet him in 1965.
President Nixon, 1969
President Richard Nixon presents Pope Paul VI with a ceramics plant and a robin sculpture by American artist Bohem along with a book on the works of the sculptor in 1969.
President Carter & First Lady Rosalyn Carter, 1979
Pope John Paul II sweetly embraces Amy Carter as mom and dad warmly look on during his 1979 visit.
President Carter, 1979
President Jimmy Carter gives Pope John Paul II a hand with his cape, blown up by a breeze during his speech at the White House in 1979.
President Reagan, 1984
Pope John Paul II greets the crowd in Fairbanks, Alaska with President Ronald Reagan looking on.
Former President Reagan and Nancy Reagan, 1990
Former President Ronald Reagan and former First Lady Nancy Reagan paid a visit to Pope John Paul II at the Vatican over a year after his administration ended — it was considered a friendly private meeting.
President Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush, 1989
Pope John Paul II presents First Lady Barbara Bush with a Vatican Medal during their visit to the Vatican in 1989.
President Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush, 1991
Pope John Paul II gives a farewell speech to President Bush before he and Barabara Bush head back home after a visit to the Vatican in 1991.
President Clinton, 1993
President Bill Clinton points out people in the crowd to Pope John Paul II as he arrives in Denver, Colorado for a visit in 1993.
President Clinton & First Lady Hillary Clinton, 1994
President Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton met with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in 1994.
President Clinton, 1995
President Clinton greets Pope John Paul II during upon his arrival at Newark International Airport in 1995.
President Bush, 2004
This was President George W. Bush’s last meeting at the Vatican with Pope John Paul II. The Pope passed away in April 2005.
President Bush & First Lady Laura Bush, 2008
Pope Benedict XVI shakes hands with First Daughter Jenna Bush with President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush proudly looking on.
President Bush, 2008
President Bush protectively escorts Pope Benedict XVI into the Oval Office of the White House in 2008.
President Bush & First Lady Laura Bush, 2008
Pope Benedict gave President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush a private tour of the Vatican Gardens, where popes pray privately and only special guests are allowed to stroll.
President Obama & First Lady Michelle Obama, 2009
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama went to the Vatican in 2009 to meet with Pope Benedict XVI.
President Obama, 2014
Pope Francis and President Obama crack a joke as they exchange gifts at the Vatican in 2014.
President Obama & First Lady Michelle Obama, 2015
President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and Pope Francis warmly wave to the crowd on the South Lawn from the Truman Balcony at the White House in 2015.
President Obama, 2015
President Obama leans over to talk to Pope Francis during his official visit to the White House in 2015.
President Trump & First Lady Melania Trump, 2017
Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, President Trump and Pope Francis pose for an official photo in 2017.
President Trump & First Lady Melania Trump, 2017
Pope Francis exchanges gifts with President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the Vatican in 2017.
First Lady Melania Trump, 1997
Pope Francis walks past Ivanka Trump First Lady Melania Trump during their private visit to the Vatican in 2017.
President Biden & First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, 2021
President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden were given a private tour of the Vatican by Pope Francis during their G20 visit in Italy in October 2021.
President Biden & First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, 2021
While this isn’t the first time President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden met Pope Francis (they met him during the Obama years), this is their visit since he won the election.
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