BIDEN TO REPORTERS: “I’M GOING TO MISS POPE FRANCIS. I KNEW HIS DAD, YOU KNOW. POPE PETER.”

(Rehoboth Beach) In his first public comments since the passing of Pope Francis, President Joe Biden told reporters assembled in front of his retirement home about the time he met the father of the recently deceased pontiff, Pope Peter.

“We were walking along the beach in Galilee right after the crucifixion of Jesus and he said to me, Joey, I’m really getting a bum rap from the press about this whole 'deny me three times' malarkey.”

At this, the former President looked at the assembled crowd of media with a twinkle in his eye, and with a rueful smile, said “Pete – that’s what I called him, you know 
 you’re going to be the rock upon whom our Lord is going to build His church. Don’t let the bastards get you down.”

As reporters shouted out questions citing the veracity of his story, Dr. Jill Biden quickly moved toward her husband, luring him to her side with a large bowl of tapioca pudding. “I think that’ll be all today, gentlemen,” she said, taking her husband by the arm.

“Come back tomorrow, kids, and I’ll tell you about the time I extinguished the burning bush with Moses!” Biden shouted. “I think they’re going to do the story on an upcoming episode of Fire Country!”