President Biden, a Catholic, awarded the medal with distinction to the pontiff, to whom he has turned for personal guidance.

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.

COMMENTARY: Pope Francis, on Jan. 11, became the third pope to be given the highest civilian honor in the U.S.

Functionally, there is no difference between the US's Medal of Freedom and the Order of Lenin awards handed out by the old Soviet Union.

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Saturday honored Pope Francis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction, the highest civilian award given by the president, saying the pontiff was “a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world.”

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

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.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Pope Francis on Saturday and awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, the nation's highest civilian honor, the White House said. It was the first time during his four years in office that Biden awarded the medal "with distinction," it said.

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