(News Punch) Joe Biden, the first Catholic president in six decades who proclaims himself to be a “devout” follower of the church’s teachings, has been snubbed by the late Pope Benedict XVI and told not to attend his funeral.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Tuesday that America’s Ambassador to the Holy See will attend the funeral instead of Biden. Jean-Pierre said Biden won’t be attending the funeral “in line with the wishes of the late Pope and the Vatican.”
Biden, who claims to be Catholic despite conflicting views, reacted to the snub while speaking with reporters Wednesday on the South Lawn while leaving the White House.
Instead of attending Benedict’s funeral with other world leaders, Biden is traveling to Kentucky to commemorate his infrastructure law with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
A reporter asked Biden why he won’t be attending the funeral for the former pope, who died on Saturday. Biden, obviously riled by Benedict’s decision to ban him from the funeral, appeared to snap at the reporter over the question.
Biden was visibly irritated with the reporter for asking why he won’t be attending the pope’s funeral.
“You’re not attending [Pope Benedict XVI’s] funeral tomorrow, though. Why?” a reporter asked.
“Well, why do you think?” Biden retorted.
The reporter shot back: “You tell me.”
“You know why,” Biden said.
The reporter replied, “You can tell me, sir.”
Biden then claimed that he isn’t attending because it would take an entourage of 1,000 people in order to go.
“We would just get in the way,” he said.
Reporter asks Biden why he’s not attending Former Pope Benedict’s funeral:
REPORTER: “You’re not attending his funeral tomorrow…why?”
BIDEN: “Why do you think?”
REPORTER: “Well, you tell me.”
BIDEN: “You know why…We would just get in the way.” pic.twitter.com/XAGvRGzMTH
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 4, 2023
It should come as no surprise that Biden was removed from the guest list by the late Pope Benedict. As a conservative, he was no doubt appalled by Biden’s positions on a raft of issues, not least his pro-abortion stance.
