The United States (U.S.) President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Brian Burch, a vocal conservative and president of the CatholicVote organization, who has been an outspoken critic of Pope Francis, as the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican.
“I am pleased to announce that Brian Burch will be the new U.S.ambassador to the Holy See,” Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social on Friday.
Describing Burch, a vocal critic of the Pope, as a “devout” Catholic, the president-elect highlighted Burch’s numerous awards and “exceptional” leadership, which contributed to the growth of one of the largest Catholic advocacy organizations in the U.S.
Trump also praised Burch for his influence in garnering Catholic voter support in the November elections, adding: “He represented me well during the last election – I won more Catholic votes than any presidential candidate in history.”
“Brian loves his church and the U.S. – he will make us all proud,” Trump stated, congratulating Burch and his family.
Burch, on the other hand, stated on the platform X that the Catholic Church is the “greatest” and “most important” religious institution in the world, emphasizing that its relationship with the U.S. is of vital importance.
He also expressed his commitment to working with leaders within the Vatican and the new administration to uphold the dignity of all people and advance shared interests.
Burch has long been a critic of Pope Francis and, on several occasions, has openly questioned his leadership.
Following Pope Francis’s 2023 decision to allow priests to bless individuals in same-sex marriages, Burch criticized the move, accusing the Pope of causing confusion within the Catholic Church. He also predicted that the now 88-year-old Pope would not remain at the helm of the Church for much longer and stressed that the next Pope must “clarify” the uncertainties of Pope Francis’s tenure.
Photo curtesy of CRC
