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4w ago

Senate Confirms Brian Burch as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See

His confirmation resolves a standoff over State Department nominations, opening the door to closer engagement between Washington and the Vatican.

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Brian Burch, critic of Pope Francis, confirmed as Trump's Vatican ambassador

Overview

  • The Senate confirmed Burch in a 49–44 party-line vote on August 2, overcoming a monthslong hold by Sen. Brian Schatz on State Department nominees.
  • A co-founder of CatholicVote, Burch has publicly criticized Pope Francis, reflecting ideological divides within the American Catholic community.
  • Nominated by President Trump on December 20, Burch is set to succeed former Sen. Joe Donnelly, who served as ambassador from April 2022 until July 2024.
  • His appointment underscores CatholicVote’s influence in national politics and the growing use of Senate holds and party-line votes in diplomatic confirmations.
  • Administration officials are preparing for Burch to leverage his Vatican post to advance U.S. priorities on religious freedom, global peace and humanitarian aid.