Singer Dolly Parton declined receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom three times, twice from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, and once from U.S. President Joe Biden. Parton revealed that she had declined the award from Trump and Biden in a 2021 interview. They have not commented on her decision.

Functionally, there is no difference between the US's Medal of Freedom and the Order of Lenin awards handed out by the old Soviet Union.

Pope Francis is receiving the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, the country's highest civilian honor, the White House confirmed Saturday.

COMMENTARY: Pope Francis, on Jan. 11, became the third pope to be given the highest civilian honor in the U.S.

President Joe Biden has honored Pope Francis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction. It's the highest civilian award given by the president.

President Joe Biden changed his travel plans to Rome to award Pope Francis the Medal of Freedom due to the California wildfires, but the two still spoke on Saturday.

Biden spoke by phone with His Holiness Pope Francis Saturday morning and "expressed his deep regret" that he was unable to visit Rome and Vatican City.

President Joe Biden on Saturday awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, the highest U.S. civilian honor. Biden handed out Medals of Freedom to 19 people earlier this month,