President-elect Joe Biden spoke with Pope Francis on Thursday, thanking him for "extending blessings and congratulations" and praising the pope for his leadership in "promoting peace, reconciliation, and the common bonds of humanity around the world," according to the Biden transition team.
The big picture: Biden will be the second-ever Catholic president, joined only by John F. Kennedy.
What they're saying: "The president-elect expressed his desire to work together on the basis of a shared belief in the dignity and equality of all humankind on issues such as caring for the marginalized and the poor, addressing the crisis of climate change, and welcoming and integrating immigrants and refugees into our communities," the transition team said in a statement.
Go deeper: More foreign leaders have called to congratulate Biden than GOP senators
