ROME (Reuters) - Joe Biden and his wife Jill attended Mass on Saturday evening in the American church of Rome, a day after the U.S. president met Pope Francis and said later that the pontiff had told him he is a "good Catholic" who can receive communion.

       That statement widened a gulf between Francis and conservative U.S. bishops who want to deny him the right to receive communion because of Biden's support for abortion rights.

       A person inside the church on Saturday told Reuters the president took communion.

       Biden regularly attends Mass in Washington, D.C., either on Saturday night or Sunday. In Rome, where he was taking part in a summit of the G20 world's richest nations, he attended Mass at St. Patrick's Church, near the U.S. Embassy.

       Catholics can attend Mass on Saturday night to fulfil their Sunday obligation.

       Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who is also Catholic, attended Mass in the same church earlier this month but had to leave early because of a security threat connected with people protesting in a nearby square against coronavirus vaccinations.

       (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Writing by Philip Pullella; Editing by Frances Kerry)