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US President Joe Biden says Pope Francis told him during their meeting at the Vatican on Friday that he should continue to receive communion, despite calls from conservatives to deny him the sacrament over his pro-choice stance on abortion.

Speaking to reporters after his 75-minute private audience with the pope, the President said Francis told him "He was happy I'm a good Catholic" and that he should "keep receiving communion."

Conservative bishops in the US have castigated the President for his support for abortion rights, with some saying he should not be allowed to receive communion.

Mr Biden had a longer than expected encounter at the Vatican, sitting down with the pontiff for more than twice as long as Donald Trump did on his visit to Rome four years ago.

The behind-closed-doors meeting lasted for one hour and 15 minutes, the Holy See said - compared to the 30 minutes that Francis granted President Trump in 2017 and the 50 minutes he spent with President Obama in 2014.

Read more here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2021/10/29/joe-biden-meet-pope-francis-amid-tensions-issue-abortion/

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