Pope Francis Inauguration: Boehner Declines WH Invitation to Papal Investiture

Pope Francis will be officially inaugurated on March 19, the Vatican said on Wednesday — according to Reuters. And, though the White House invited Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner (R-Ohio) to join Vice President Joe Biden as part of a delegation to the papal investiture, Boehner declined the invitation citing budget negotiations as the reason — according to National Journal. "I am grateful for the invitation to attend the papal investiture in Rome with Vice President Biden, and would like to be able to join the trip," Boehner said. "Unfortunately, my duties in the House next week — including hosting President Obama and the prime minister of Ireland at the Capitol on Tuesday, and the debate on the budget — make that impossible," he added.