President Joe Biden changed his travel plans to Rome to award Pope Francis the Medal of Freedom due to the California wildfires, but the two still spoke on Saturday.

President Joe Biden has honored Pope Francis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction. It's the highest civilian award given by the president.

Pope Francis is receiving the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, the country's highest civilian honor, the White House confirmed Saturday.

For just the third time since 1994, someone has earned a Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction. The last person to earn the medal with distinction: Joe Biden.

President Joe Biden awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, on Saturday from the White House after he missed a scheduled trip to the Vatican in order to monitor the wildfires that have been raging across Southern California.

Biden, the nation's second Catholic president, spoke with the pontiff to name him a recipient of the award, the White House said.

President Joe Biden has awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction, the first time in his term the president has bestowed that honor, the White House announced on Saturday.

President Joe Biden awarded Pope Francis with a Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction during a phone call on Saturday, according to the White House.

President Joe Biden awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, recognizing him as a recipient of the nation s highest civilian honor

President Joe Biden has awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction. It’s the highest civilian honor given by the president.

The White House commended Pope Francis for his commitment to serving the poor, as well as advocating for peace and protecting the planet.

President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction to Pope Francis on Saturday, granting one of the nation’s highest honors to a figure he called “the People’s Pope.”