Inauguration 2021

Commentary: The Biden and Harris families began one of the most important days of their lives with a Mass intentionally not for public display. The music, readings and prayer texts chosen also reveal much and give us a glimpse into the heart of the man elected to lead the nation.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris heard from a diverse group of faith leaders Jan. 21 in the National Prayer Service, a day after their inauguration.

Watch: NCR's Heidi Schlumpf and Michael Sean Winters join Sr. Simone Campbell and Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine for a conversation about the inauguration of President Joe Biden and NCR's Building a Common Future series.

The over 30 faith leaders who joined the online service also prayed for President Joe Biden, members of Congress, the nation's front-line workers, victims of COVID-19 and immigrants. 

Distinctly Catholic: President Joe Biden's inaugural address was a better articulation of Catholic ideas about governance than any recent document from the U.S. bishops' conference.

The Vatican is more than 4,000 miles away from the White House, but on Wednesday it was much closer to the nation's second Catholic president than the leadership of the U.S. hierarchy. 

Bishops across the U.S. welcomed the inauguration of President Joe Biden as a celebration of democracy and liberty, and prayed for reconciliation in the face of deep political divides.

"We'll press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities. Much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain."

The 46th president of the United States along with fellow Catholics and other people of goodwill began the latest chapter in the nation's political history with a Mass ahead of the presidential inauguration.

We say: In his inaugural address Jan. 20, President Joe Biden declared that democracy had prevailed, asserting that "disagreement must not lead to disunion" and calling for Americans to "start afresh."

In his inaugural address Jan. 20, President Joe Biden said he is committed with his "whole soul" to bringing this country together.

The U.S. Bishops' Conference president said he was praying God will help Biden "heal the wounds caused by the pandemic, [and] to ease our intense political and culture divisions." 

Pope Francis prayed that President Joe Biden would work to heal the divisions in U.S. society and promote human dignity and peace around the globe.

The Rev. Kevin O’Brien said: As you live out this mission as servant leaders, I also remind you of the Lord’s promise ... "The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. .... Then the God of peace will be with you."

The Bible is so big — with a leather cover, metal clasps and 5 inches of thickness — that Jill Biden held it with two hands when her husband was sworn in as President Barack Obama's vice president.

In the roughly 48-hour period of Joe Biden's inaugural events, there will be no shortage of Catholic signs and symbolism. Some were already on display upon Biden’s arrival in the nation's capital Jan. 19.   

Distinctly Catholic: The day of Biden's inauguration will also be the 60th anniversary of the first time a Catholic became president. Much has changed in church and state. What, then, is the value of historical analogy?

Fr. Leo O'Donovan, former president of Georgetown University, confirmed to NCR that he had accepted the invitation to offer the prayer Jan. 20, which will mark the election of the nation's second Catholic president.