Vatican City
Reuters
Pope Francis is not expected to veto President Donald Trump’s choice of a high-profile critic of his papacy as the next US ambassador to the Holy See, according to two senior Vatican officials, despite misgivings about his stance on many issues.
Brian Burch, who leads a right-wing advocacy group, has said the pope’s pastoral agenda, such as being more welcoming of LGBTQ Catholics, was causing “massive confusion” for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer from his window at the Vatican, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, on 19th January, 2025. PICTURE: Vatican Media/Simone Risoluti/Handout via Reuters,
Trump nominated Burch for the Vatican role in December. At the time, Austen Ivereigh, a papal advisor who co-authored a book with Francis in 2020, said the Vatican had “every right” to refuse to accredit Burch as ambassador.
The two Vatican officials, speaking to Reuters on background on a matter still under discussion, said Francis, who may need to appoint a new Vatican ambassador to the US during Trump’s four-year term, wanted to avoid a diplomatic scuffle and was not planning to veto the appointment.
Burch, whose Senate confirmation hearing has not yet been scheduled, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
At the time of his nomination, Burch said on X: “I am committed to working with leaders inside the Vatican and the new administration to promote the dignity of all people and the common good.”
“MY HEART IS WITH LA”: POPE PRAYS FOR PEOPLE OF LOS ANGELES AS THEY ENDURE WILDFIRES
Pope Francis offered prayers Wednesday for the people of Los Angeles as they endure deadly fires.
Francis referred to the disaster during his weekly general audience Wednesday and invoked Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is revered by many Latino Catholics.
“My heart is with the people of Los Angeles who are suffering so much as a result of the fires that have devastated entire neighbourhoods and communities,” Francis said. “May Our Lady of Guadalupe intercede for everyone to be a witness of hope.”
Fires fuelled by hurricane-strength winds and parched weather have been raging in parts of Los Angeles since 7th January. The blazes have killed at least 28 people, forced tens of thousands to flee their homes, destroyed more than 14,000 structures and rank among the most destructive in California’s history.
– AP
Francis, leader of the global church since 2013, is usually careful about engaging in political debates.
But he has been sharply critical of some of the President’s priorities, such as plans to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. On the eve of Trump’s inauguration, the Pope called the deportation program a “disgrace”.
Burch has been part of CatholicVote since 2005. In 2023, he sharply criticised the Pope’s decision to allow priests to give blessings to same-sex couples, and said a future pope would need to “clarify” some of Francis’ teachings.
Burch also accused the pope of governing the church with a “pattern of vindictiveness,” following Francis’ 2023 decision to remove a Catholic bishop in Texas who had taken to posting right-wing material and conspiracy theories on social media.
Nomination questioned
Two former US ambassadors to the Vatican told Reuters that Burch might have a difficult time making inroads among Vatican officials, given his criticism of the pope.
“People in the Vatican, they read the news,” said Ken Hackett, who served as President Barack Obama’s ambassador from 2013-2017. “They don’t like getting dissed or having negative things said about them or about the Holy Father.”
Francis Rooney, President George W Bush’s ambassador from 2005-2008, said Vatican officials consider their relationship with the US administration very important, but are cautious about interacting with papal critics.
“If the kitchen gets too hot on some of these issues publicly, that would certainly make [Vatican officials] draw back,” said Rooney, a former Republican congressman. “The one person they’re not going to get crosswise with is the Pope.”
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CatholicVote is known for being closely allied with Republican politics.
In 2020, the group sent a guide to voters in swing states, describing Trump as aligned with Catholic teaching on issues such as abortion, religious freedom and healthcare. The guide did not mention Francis’ criticisms of Trump.
CatholicVote also collected data from people’s cellphones as they attended Mass. The practice, called “geofencing,” allowed the group to identify potential Catholic voters, and send them political ads favouring Trump, raising ethical concerns.
Rev Tom Reese, a US Jesuit priest and commentator, said the Vatican expected ambassadors to push their country’s agenda.
“He’s a lobbyist for the US Government in the Vatican,” Reese said of Burch’s future role. “But…a lobbyist who’s obnoxious is not going to accomplish much.”
