WASHINGTON – In January, President Joe Biden is set to make a trip to Italy for an important meeting with Pope Francis, which is expected to be one of his last international outings before leaving office.

The White House announced that Biden had a conversation with the pope on Thursday and accepted his invitation to visit the Vatican early next month, just over a week prior to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Biden’s visit is scheduled from January 9 to January 12. The outgoing president will meet with the pontiff on January 10, along with meetings with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, according to the White House.

The discussions between Biden and the pope will focus on global peace initiatives, as stated by White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

During his meetings with Italian officials, Biden aims to emphasize the strong ties between the U.S. and Italy, extend his gratitude to Meloni for her leadership of the Group of Seven (G7) this past year, and discuss various global challenges, Jean-Pierre indicated.

Biden, who is a devout Roman Catholic, has previously met with Pope Francis earlier this year at the G7 summit in Italy and again in 2021 at the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Rome.

As the second Catholic president in U.S. history, Biden faces criticism from some members of the Catholic Church due to his support for abortion rights and same-sex marriage. Some conservative bishops have argued that those who hold such views should not be allowed to receive communion. However, after their 2021 meeting, Biden shared that Pope Francis advised him to continue receiving communion.

During their recent dialogue on Thursday, Biden and the pope talked about promoting peace worldwide, particularly during the holiday season. The president expressed his appreciation for the pope’s ongoing efforts to reduce global suffering, including his advocacy for human rights and the protection of religious freedoms, according to the White House.