Former US president, Joe Biden and former first lady Jill Biden will attend the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday to pay a tribute to their close relationship.
According to the office of the former president, the couple will travel independently, and not on Air Force One with President Donald Trump, who will also be attending the funeral.
The Vatican has said, so far, some 50 heads of state and ten reigning monarchs have confirmed their attendance.
Biden, a devout Catholic, has often expressed affection and admiration for Pope Francis.
The duo had several official and private meetings and Biden reportedly kept a photo of Francis in the Oval Office during his term.
The Democrat had planned to visit the Vatican at the very end of his term in January to personally present the head of the Catholic Church with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honour.
However, Biden had to cancel the trip due to violent fires in Los Angeles.
It will be recalled that an ex-US president, George W. Bush in 2005, brought two of his predecessors, Bill Clinton and his father, George Bush Senior, with him to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II.