In an address at The National Prayer Breakfast, an annual event held on the first Thursday of February and hosted by Co-Chairs Rep. Tracey Mann and Rep. Frank Mrvan, President Joe Biden emphasized the core principles of equality and freedom that define the United States.
President Biden was spotted wiping his eye with a tissue as Andrea Bocelli performed Amazing Grace earlier in the service, saying in his speech that Bocelli is “a gift.” Before he stood up to give his speech, he looked on while Johnson and Jeffries gave readings from the Old Testament and while Senate Chaplain Barry Black gave the keynote address.
“We were all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives,” Biden said. The President underlined the US’s role as a global beacon, saying, “the entire world looks” to the nation.
The President commended the United States as a nation where citizens can freely practice their faiths and expressed condolences and prayers for the families of three US soldiers killed in North East Jordan by an aerial drone on Sunday.
Biden addressed the “trauma and destruction in Israel and Gaza,” expressing concern for the “innocent men, women, and children” facing airstrikes and potential starvation. He offered prayers for peace, emphasizing the need for enduring peace for both the Israeli and Palestinian people.
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Speaking about the war in Ukraine, Biden acknowledged the Ukrainian people’s resilience against “Putin’s aggression.” He urged continued support for them, saying, “We must continue to help them.” The President emphasized the broader responsibility to assist each other, both domestically and internationally.
Concluding his address, Biden appealed for unity, saying, “I’ve long believed that we must look at each other, even in our most challenging times, not as enemies but as fellow Americans.” Quoting from the Bible, he added, “The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, I believe that is our collective calling today.”
President Biden’s final words reflected his hope for a brighter future, “My prayer, my hope is that we can continue to believe our best days are ahead of us, that as a nation, we continue to believe in honesty, dignity, decency, and respect,” he said.
