Biden says Pope Francis told him he's a 'good Catholic' amid criticism over his abortion views

As President Joe Biden embarked on only his second overseas trip, he started with a personally poignant audience with Pope Francis on Friday, the first time in more than half a century that a Roman Catholic U.S. leader has met at the Vatican with the head of the Catholic Church.

The White House said the private meeting lasted about 90 minutes, unusually long.

Overshadowing the meeting was criticism from conservative U.S. bishops over Biden's public, political position on abortion, some arguing Biden and others who share his views should be denied Communion.