By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY, (Reuters) – Pope Francis meets Joe Biden on Friday in Vatican. This is at a moment when President Obama faces intense pressure because of his conflicting position regarding abortion rights.

Biden regularly attends weekly Mass, and keeps a photograph of the pope at his desk in Oval Office. Biden has stated that he opposes abortion, but cannot force his opinions on elected leaders.

He has been criticized by conservative Catholic media, U.S.-based bishops, and some have suggested that he shouldn’t be allowed to receive communion, the most important sacrament in the faith.

A new Texas law, which imposes an almost total ban on abortions, has also horrified supporters of abortion rights. Biden’s Administration has challenged the law, and the Supreme Court is expected to hear the case on Monday.

Biden and Pope Francis may not discuss communion and abortion at their private meeting Friday. This will be the first time they have met since Biden’s election.

“It is clear that the pope doesn’t agree with President Obama on abortion. That’s been made extremely clear,” Archbishop William Lori from Baltimore said to Catholic News Service.

The pope answered reporters when asked his opinion on the U.S. Communion debate. He said abortion is murder. However, he was also critical of U.S. Catholic priests who dealt with the topic in a more pastoral than political way.

The pope stated that “Communion does not win the prize of perfection…communion can be a gift from Jesus Christ and his Church.”

He said that bishops must show compassion and tenderness to Catholic politicians who are against abortion rights.

Francis was elected the first Latin American pope in 2013. He has maintained that, while the Church opposes abortion, it should not be an all-consuming fight in culture conflicts that divert attention to issues such as poverty.

The June conference featured a split group of U.S. Roman Catholic episcopal bishops

Voted to create a statement about communion. Some bishops believe it should be scolded specifically at Catholic politicians like Biden.

Despite Vatican warnings that the move would create discord and not unity, the bishops voted for it.

CONSERVATIVES ABOUT THE ATTACK

Two of three highest offices in America are held by Catholics – Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of House. The Church conservatives have attacked both Biden, and Pelosi, instead of unifying co-religionists as John F. Kennedy’s election as first Catholic president in 1960.

This month, they have intensified their critique of Biden’s administration for challenging Texas law.

Although Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Washington’s archbishop, did not try to prevent Biden from being baptized, Salvatore Cordileone, Pelosi’s archbishop, told his priests to not give the communion to him.

Jen Psaki, spokesperson for the White House said that they would be working together to “respect fundamental human dignity” in a statement released last week. She stated that this would cover the end of the COVID-19 epidemic, the climate crisis and the care for the poor.

Biden will attend the U.N. General Assembly. The pope also urged people to get vaccinated. Biden will participate in the U.N. The U.N. Climate Change Summit in Glasgow will be attended by Biden. It is anticipated that the pope will send a message.

Many U.S. Bishops are climate change-sceptics, who supported President Donald Trump. Pope Francis and Trump had several disagreements.