Senate Confirms Brian Burch U.S. Ambassador Holy See

Brian Burch was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the ambassador to the Holy See in a party-line vote of 49-44 after delays caused by Senate Democrats protesting President Donald Trump's actions. Burch, co-founder and president of CatholicVote, is the first U.S. ambassador to serve under Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, with whom he shares a Chicago hometown. His nomination marked a conservative shift in U.S.-Vatican relations, as Burch has publicly criticized some policies of the late Pope Francis, including the 2023 decision to allow blessings for same-sex couples. The position is significant because the Vatican, while small in size, holds considerable global influence on humanitarian and moral issues, and Burch pledged to deepen the unique diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and the Holy See. The confirmation was stalled for months by Senator Brian Schatz's hold on State Department nominees due to disagreements over the Trump administration's USAID restructuring. Burch expressed gratitude for the opportunity and emphasized the importance of advancing mutual interests such as religious freedom, human dignity, and global peace.