This news comes despite the fact that Pope Francis has expressed misgivings about Brian Burch’s positions on several issues.
Burch is the president of CatholicVote, a right-wing advocacy group which has strong anti-LGBTQ+ positions. CatholicVote is a conservative political advocacy groupwhich endorsed Trump and spent over $10 million on ads in the 2024 campaign.
The two Vatican officials, speaking anonymously to provide background, said that the matter was still under discussion, and Francis wanted to avoid a diplomatic scuffle, especially since the pontiff may have to appoint a new Holy See ambassador to the U.S. during Trump’s term.
Pope Francis congratulated Trump on his inauguration, but also called Trump’s deportation plans a “disgrace.”
Burch has been openly critical of Pope Francis on social media, writing on X, “Suffice it say, @Pontifex actions against his critics, together with progressive Catholic cheerleading, has only vindicated those that warned that “synodality” was merely a ruse. Is this what walking in the Spirit looks like?”
Additionally, he has shared writings of right-wing clerics who criticize Pope Francis.
In 2023, Burch appeared on Newsmax, an ultra-conservative channel, to condemn the Pope’s decision to allow blessings for people in same-sex relationships.
Burch has also said the next pope should “clarify” the church’s stance on human sexuality, predicting that Francis would not be in office much longer. He further said that Pope Francis leads with a “pattern of vindictiveness,” after a well-justified 2023 decision removed a Catholic bishop in Texas due to the bishop posting conspiracy theories on social media, and criticizing church policies and teachings.
Steven Millies, a public theology professor and director of the Bernardin Center at Catholic Theological Union,Chicago, told the National Catholic Reporter. “Burch is an agitator, mostly, the opposite of a diplomat,”and he added that “A difficult time lies ahead for U.S.-Vatican relations.”
Two former US ambassadors to the Vatican had similar misgivings about the appointment. Ken Hackett, who served as President Barack Obama’s ambassador from 2013-2017, told the National Catholic Reporter: “People in the Vatican, they read the news. They don’t like getting dissed or having negative things said about them or about the Holy Father.”
Similarly, Francis Rooney, President George W. Bush’s ambassador from 2005-2008, said that the Vatican is cautious about interacting too much with critics of the pope: “If the kitchen gets too hot on some of these issues publicly, that would certainly make (Vatican officials) draw back. The one person they’re not going to get crosswise with is the pope.”
Fr. Thomas Reese, a seasoned Vatican observer, said Burch’s role is to be “a lobbyist for the U.S. government in the Vatican,” but he also added that “a lobbyist who’s obnoxious is not going to accomplish much.”