Biden meets McConnell and Pelosi at the church before the inauguration

Biden meets McConnell and Pelosi at the church before the inauguration

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President-elect Joe Biden is at the church for a pre-inauguration service, where he joined Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Mayor Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin House McCarthy in a demonstration of national unity.

Accompanied by the arrival of First Lady Jill Biden, the 46th commander-in-chief was picked up by the Secret Service at Blair House, the White House guesthouse where the couple was staying on Tuesday night, and left for St. John’s Cathedral. Matthew the Apostle.

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and new second gentleman Doug Emhoff also attended the ceremony.

The church in Washington DC will be the incoming president’s only stop before his inauguration ceremony, which he will address shortly after the service.

United States President-elect Joe Biden (C) and incoming First Lady Jill Biden attend mass at St. Matthew the Apostle Cathedral in Washington, DC.
US President-elect Joe Biden (C) and incoming First Lady Jill Biden attend Mass at St. Matthew the Apostle Cathedral in Washington, DC.AFP via Getty Images

Biden invited Senator McConnell (R-Ky.), Senator Schumer (D-NY), Mayor Pelosi (D-California) and Deputy McCarthy (R-California) to join him at the cathedral in downtown DC in an effort to begin healing party wounds across the country, a promise from the incoming president throughout his campaign.

US President-elect Joe Biden (L) and incoming First Lady Jill Biden attend mass with family and Congress leaders at St. Matthew the Apostle Cathedral in Washington, DC
US President-elect Joe Biden (L) and incoming First Lady Jill Biden attend mass with family and Congress leaders at St. Matthew the Apostle Cathedral in Washington, DC
AFP via Getty Images

Sources confirmed to The Post on Tuesday that House and Senate leaders accepted the new president’s invitation.

President Trump, for his part, will not attend religious service or inauguration, making him the first president to skip the ceremony in more than 150 years.

Also present are members of the Biden and Harris families, all of whom were seen entering the DC-based church just before 9:00 am Eastern time.

From left, Mayor Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul Pelosi, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer and his wife Iris Weinshall and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell attend mass at St. Matthew's Cathedral, the Apostle, during the inauguration day.
From left, Mayor Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul Pelosi, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer and his wife Iris Weinshall and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell attend mass at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, the Apostle, during the inauguration day.
AP

The Biden transition said Wednesday morning that Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) And the majority leader in the House, Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Would also appear in the case as chairmen of the Committee of the Joint Congress on Inaugural Ceremonies.

Mass is being held in a Catholic parish because of Biden’s Catholic faith. He will be the second Catholic president, preceded by John F. Kennedy.

Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell and his wife Elaine Chao attend mass at St. Matthew the Apostle's Cathedral during the inauguration day.
Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell and his wife Elaine Chao attend mass at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, the Apostle, during the inauguration day.
AP

Father Kevin O’Brien, who also serves as president of the University of Santa Clara, will deliver the homily and the St. Augustine Choir will perform.

Presidents who attend church before taking office are not uncommon. Former presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Ronald Reagan, George HW Bush, George W. Bush and Barack Obama attended church services on the morning of their inaugurations.

The Mayor, Nancy Pelosi, on the left, and her husband Paul Pelosi attend Mass in the Cathedral of St. Matthew, the Apostle.
The Mayor, Nancy Pelosi, on the left, and her husband Paul Pelosi attend Mass in the Cathedral of St. Matthew, the Apostle.
AP

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