Having pushed to accelerate cancer research at home, Vice President Joe Biden is working to focus the global community's attention on the devastating disease in a speech at the Vatican.

At a conference on regenerative medicine Friday, Biden plans to draw connections between medical research and broader societal issues that Pope Francis has shined a light on. Biden will see the pontiff, who also speaks at the conference, but it's unclear whether they will hold a substantial meeting.

Last year, Biden lost a son to brain cancer. Months later he declared a "moonshot" to cure cancer.

Biden, a Catholic, also plans to meet with Cardinal Pietro Parolin at the Apostolic Palace. He'll also visit Palazzo Chigi to meet with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi before returning to Washington on Friday afternoon.

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