Bidens attend Mass in Rome, a day after meeting Pope Francis

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks with a member of the clergy after attending St. Patrick's Church during a break in the G20 summit in Rome, Italy, October 30, 2021. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

ROME (Reuters) - Joe Biden and his wife Jill attended Mass on Saturday evening in the American church of Rome, a day after the U.S. president met Pope Francis and said later that the pontiff had told him he is a "good Catholic" who can receive communion.

That statement widened a gulf between Francis and conservative U.S. bishops who want to deny him the right to receive communion because of Biden's support for abortion rights.