Biden has unusually long meeting with pope as abortion debate flares at home

U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive at Fiumicino airport to attend the G20 summit of world leaders and meet Pope Francis at the Vatican ahead of the president's trip to Glasgow for COP26, near Rome, Italy, October 29, 2021. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden held an unusually long meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Friday as a debate raged back home about the Catholic president's support for abortion rights.

The Vatican said the private meeting lasted one hour and 15 minutes and then about another 15 minutes were spent for picture taking and the exchange of gifts in the presence of other members of the delegation, such as Biden's wife, Jill.