President Joe Biden had originally planned to travel to Rome to personally present the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction to Pope Francis, but the severe wildfires in California forced him to cancel the trip. This spared the nation the indignity and expense of having Joe Biden fly to Rome as a supplicant to award his religious leader a national award. Instead, the award was bestowed during a phone call between the two leaders, and the physical medal was handed to the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, on behalf of Pope Francis.
 

The Pope, as a matter of fact, is an absolute monarch within the confines of Vatican City. While the governance structure involves the College of Cardinals and ecclesiastical law, the Pope holds supreme authority over both church and state within this sovereign entity. Pope Francis was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025, marking him as the third monarch to receive this prestigious award, following Pope John Paul II who was honored by President George W. Bush in 2004, and Queen Elizabeth II, who received the medal with distinction from President George H.W. Bush in 1991. Unlike Queen Elizabeth II, who was bound by parliamentary democracy, the Pope's absolute power within Vatican City makes him a unique recipient. There is significant irony in any president awarding the Medal of Freedom to a monarch, as the very concept of freedom contrasts with the monarchical system where authority is vested in a single individual.
 

Biden's decision to award Pope Francis was accompanied by a citation that praised Francis for his commitment to serving the poor, advocating for peace, and protecting the planet, describing him as "a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world" and "the People's Pope." This recognition further underscores the Pope's significant influence both within his domain and on the world stage, cementing his status as an absolute monarch in the modern era. The irony of awarding a medal symbolizing freedom to an absolute monarch highlights the complex interplay between democratic ideals and the enduring presence of monarchical figures in contemporary geopolitics.