Trump nominates controversial ambassador – tensions with the Vatican?

Trump nominates controversial ambassador – tensions with the Vatican?

Washington, December 23, 2024 - US President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Brian Burch, President of the organization "CatholicVote", as the new US Ambassador to the Holy See. This was reported by Truth Social, where Trump praised Burch as a “faithful Catholic” who has built one of the largest Catholic advocacy groups in the country. The nomination comes after CatholicVote supported Trump with over $10 million during his campaign. With his controversial messages, Burch was able to win many Catholic votes, which strengthened Trump's success in battleground states. However, his nomination still requires US Senate confirmation and an agreement with the Vatican, as highlighted by Kathpress. Burch himself, a graduate of Catholic institutions, expressed his intention to work closely with the Vatican and defend human dignity.

Tensions between CatholicVote and the Vatican

However, the nomination could also bring tensions with the Vatican. Burch has been called a "pope critic" for accusing Pope Francis of causing confusion on issues such as blessing gay couples. Some US bishops also emphasize that the CatholicVote platform does not have official permission to use the term “Catholic.” In this context, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin underlined that wisdom in leadership is crucial and calls on Trump to overcome the deep divisions in American society. This came on the sidelines of an artificial intelligence conference in Rome while he urged the importance of the common good for future US policy, as reported by Vatican News. Parolin also expressed concerns about Trump's planned mass deportations of migrants and called for a humane migration policy. Despite these differences, however, he expressed optimism about relations between the Holy See and the new US administration, emphasizing ongoing cooperation that should be based on dialogue and mutual understanding.