President Biden and Pope Francis were captured sharing a tender moment on the final day of the G-7 summit in southern Italy on Friday.

The US President and the head of the Catholic Church greeted each other before a working session at the Borgo Egnazia resort during intergovernmental political summit in Savelletri near Bari. 

The two were seen shaking hands, with their foreheads touching.  

Earlier on Friday, the Pope hosted more than 100 comedians at the Vatican City in a warm-up act to his meeting with Biden at the G7 later in the day. 

The conclave of comedians included Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chris Rock, Stephen Colbert, and Conan O’Brien. 

Pope Francis (L) speaks with US President Joe Biden (R) as Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (rear) looks on, on the sidelines of a working session on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Energy, Africa-Mediterranean at the Borgo Egnazia resort during the G7 Summit in Savelletri near Bari, Italy, on Friday

Up close and personal: the Pope and Biden share a tender moment on Friday as they greet each other on the final day of the G-7 summit in southern Italy.

The encounter comes after the Pope hosted more than 100 comedians at the Vatican on Friday morning

 ‘You unite people, because laughter is contagious,’ the pontiff told the assembled group, adding that he has prayed for 40 years for a good sense of humor.

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‘While communication today often generates conflict, you know how to bring together diverse and sometimes contrary realities. How much we need to learn from you!’ the Pope, 87, said.

On the second and final day of the summit, leaders of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations turned their attention to AI, economic security and migration, as their delegations worked on a comprehensive joint communique touching on many of the world’s major geopolitical and social challenges.

The gathering is also discussing other major topics, such as financial support for Ukraine, the war in Gaza, climate change, Iran, the situation in the Red Sea, gender equality as well as China’s industrial policy and economic security.

FILE – From left, European Council President Charles Michel, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, U.S. President Joe Biden, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stand for a group photo at the G7, Thursday, June 13, 2024, in Borgo Egnazia, Italy.