Blinken and pope hold talks at Vatican in wake of bishops' ruling

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accompanied by tour guide Alessandro Conforti and Charge d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See Patrick Connell gets a tour of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, June 28, 2021. Andrew Harnik/Pool via REUTERS

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Monday held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who was visiting the Vatican in the wake of a decision by American Catholic bishops that could lead to them denying Communion to President Joe Biden.

Blinken is the highest-ranking Biden administration official the pontiff has met since the inauguration in January.