Biden on Francis: “He’s the embodiment of Catholic social doctrine that I was raised with”

The Vice President sat down for a lengthy interview with the editor of America magazine:

In an interview published Monday by the Catholic magazine “America,” Vice President Biden called Pope Francis “the embodiment of Catholic social doctrine that I was raised with.”

The half-hour exchange with America’s editor-in-chief, Father Matt Malone, S.J. highlighted the unique role two Catholic politicians — Biden and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) — will play during Francis’ U.S. visit this week. Biden said the two often joke as they stand side-by-side during State of the Union addresses, though they have not talked “in terms of the Holy Father.”

“John’s a good guy,” Biden said in the interview, which took place Thursday in Washington. “You know, I think we’ll both be sitting there with a great deal of pride.”

Biden has spoken in recent days about how elected officials in the United States should listen closely to the pope’s message of inclusiveness; in the interview, he said it is rooted in the Catholic faith itself.

“That’s why he’s the single most popular figure in the world today,” the vice president said. “He’s the embodiment of Catholic social doctrine that I was raised with. The idea that everyone’s entitled to dignity, that the poor should be given special preference, that you have an obligation to reach out and be inclusive.”

Check out the rest. You can read the complete interview here. 

Meantime, check out the highlights video below.