Pope Francis extended "cordial good wishes" to President Biden. He wrote in part: "...At a time when the grave crises facing our human family call for farsighted and united responses, I pray that your decisions will be guided by a concern for building a society marked by authentic justice and freedom, together with unfailing respect for the rights and dignity of every person, especially the poor, the vulnerable and those who have no voice. I likewise ask God, the source of all wisdom and truth, to guide your efforts to foster understanding, reconciliation and peace within the United States and among the nations of the world in order to advance the universal common good..."
Archbishop José H. Gomez, President of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement welcoming President Biden’s call for national healing and unity. The statement refers to Mr. Biden’s piety and personal story, his moving witness to how his Catholic faith has brought him solace in times of darkness and tragedy, and his longstanding commitment to the Gospel’s priority for the poor as "hopeful and inspiring."
At the same time, the message raised the Church's deep concerns about many threats to human life and dignity in our society. "...I must point out that our new President has pledged to pursue certain policies that would advance moral evils and threaten human life and dignity, most seriously in the areas of abortion, contraception, marriage, and gender. Of deep concern is the liberty of the Church and the freedom of believers to live according to their consciences. Our commitments on issues of human sexuality and the family, as with our commitments in every other area — such as abolishing the death penalty or seeking a health care system and economy that truly serves the human person — are guided by Christ’s great commandment to love and to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters, especially the most vulnerable..."