Vie de l'église

Pope Leo welcomes Burch as new US ambassador to the Holy See

Auteur de l’article Par Mathilde Daniel
Date de l’article 13 septembre 2025

Pope Leo XIV welcomed Brian Burch, a critic of the late Pope Francis, as the new U.S. ambassador to the Holy See Sept. 13, accepting his letters of credential and a chocolate cake topped with a metallic red sign saying, « Happy Birthday Pope Leo XIV. »

Homemade cards for the pope’s 70th birthday Sept. 14 sat alongside the cake, apparently made by some of Burch’s nine children, who also met the pope.

Burch’s audience with the pope had its very formal moments, too, as the 50-year-old ambassador, wearing a black tailcoat, presented Leo with a letter from President Donald Trump introducing Burch as the 13th U.S. ambassador to the Holy See.

Pope Leo and Burch then met privately in the library of the Apostolic Palace.

« This ceremony marks an important milestone in the continuing diplomatic relationship between the United States and the Holy See, » the U.S. embassy press office said in a brief statement.

Burch also introduced Leo to his wife, Sara, and their nine children, daughter-in-law and granddaughter.

In December, even before taking office, Trump announced on Truth Social that he was going to nominate Burch as ambassador to the Vatican.

« Brian is a devout Catholic, a father of nine, and President of CatholicVote. He has received numerous awards, and demonstrated exceptional leadership, helping build one of the largest Catholic advocacy groups in the Country, » Trump wrote. Burch « represented me well during the last Election, having garnered more Catholic votes than any Presidential Candidate in History! »

Burch served as president of CatholicVote, a right-leaning political advocacy organization, from 2008 until his nomination as ambassador.

Burch had long expressed criticism of the Francis papacy.

Following Francis’ 2023 decision to allow priests to bless individuals in same-sex unions, Burch blasted the pope for creating « confusion » within the Catholic Church. He said that the next pope must « clarify » the confusion of the Francis era.

On other occasions, he criticized Francis’ governance for what he characterized as a « pattern of vindictiveness. »

Turning to the Blessed Virgin Mary in prayer

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