Bush (l) presents Pope John Paul II with the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in the Sala Clementina, June 4, 2004, in Vatican City. (photo: TIM SLOAN / AFP via Getty Images) ...

Before Biden, the most recent time someone earned the medal with distinction was Pope John Paul II in 2004 by then-President George W. Bush. Only three times since 1994 has the Presidential Medal ...