VATICAN CITY (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden has spoken privately with Pope Francis at the Vatican.

Biden is in Vatican City to speak about cancer research at a conference on regenerative medicine. The pope also spoke at the conference, after Biden.

The White House says in between their speeches, the pope greeted Biden privately offstage. They also exchanged small tokens.

Biden and the pope also spoke briefly after their speeches to the conference as they greeted others in attendance. They were seen smiling and chatting briefly in front of the stage.

Biden was joined by his son, Hunter, and his daughter Ashley Biden's husband, Howard Krein. Biden's son in law is a physician who has been involved in his push on cancer research.

Biden's other son, Beau, died of cancer last year.

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