Brian Burch: America’s Ideal Ambassador to the Holy See | The American Spectator

It took ridiculously long, but it finally happened.

Over the weekend, after months of intentional delays by Democrats behaving like partisan ideologues, the Senate confirmed Brian Burch as U.S. ambassador to the Vatican. Predictably, it was a party-line vote, 49 to 44.

Burch’s nomination had been held hostage by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), who placed a blanket hold on all State Department nominees — over 50 in total — because of what he dubbed President Donald Trump’s “illegal attempt to shutter the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as an independent agency.” Not until Trump’s move “is reversed” would Schatz permit a vote. Mercifully, a vote finally occurred when U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) provided cloture on Burch’s confirmation on July 31. 

The delay was highly ill-advised. It came during the crucial period when the previous pope, Francis, had died, and a new pope, Leo XIV, was elected and installed as the 267th successor to St. Peter. The pope was chosen by the conclave on May 8. His installation at St. Peter’s Square was on May 18.

The latter was an especially meaningful event. Present for the ceremony — at which the new pontiff received the Fishermen’s Ring — were dignitaries representing approximately 200 foreign delegations. They included the likes of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Argentinian President Javier Milei, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, among others. Officially representing Leo XIV’s native land were the two highest-ranking officials and Catholics in the Trump administration, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with their wives, Usha and Jeanette.

It goes without saying that the United States needed an official ambassador to the Holy See for that occasion. In fact, the day after the installation ceremony, the new pope had a long meeting with Vance and Rubio, the latter of whom had just met with his Vatican counterpart, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The three Catholic Americans talked foreign policy, from Russia-Ukraine to Israel-Hamas to Pope Francis’ outrageous Vatican-China agreement that to this day remains shrouded in secrecy. These were issues raised to Burch during his confirmation hearings, which he handled very well, and quite diplomatically, which is what his job calls him to do. 

It’s telling that in his statement over the weekend thanking the Senate for finally confirming him, Burch said, “I am profoundly grateful to President Trump and the United States Senate for this opportunity to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to the Holy See. As a proud Catholic American, I look forward to representing President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Secretary Rubio in this important diplomatic post.” 

Burch could have been doing that months ago. Had Senate Democrats done their job and merely allowed the inevitable vote, Burch would have been seated by the time of the pope’s election and installation and could have taken part in those meetings with Leo XIV. At the least, he could have been present at the Vatican for a debrief with Vance and Rubio. That’s how a nation gets good governance. It benefits a country’s diplomats to be informed so they can best represent a country’s foreign policy. Senators should understand that.

Alas, Democrats did not permit that because of their political-ideological hackery. But I’m repeating myself!

The Democrats’ obstruction seems doubly foolish and even cruel because the new pope is from Chicago, as is Brian Burch. “In a remarkable coincidence, or what I prefer to attribute to providence, Pope Leo XIV is from Chicago, which is also my hometown,” notes Burch.

That was even more reason for the new ambassador and new pope to form a bond that benefits both sides.

Aside from matters of state and diplomacy, it must be said that Brian Burch is a very faithful Catholic. He and his wife, Sara, take their faith so seriously — and the teachings of their Church so seriously — that they have nine children. Yes, nine. 

As a father of a bunch of kids myself (we have eight), I can tell you that raising a large family requires sacrifice and discipline. The Burches will have that big family with them in Rome. The new ambassador to the Holy See has truly lived what St. Pope John Paul II called the Culture of Life.

Come to think of it, maybe that’s what the liberals hate the most about him.

Congratulations to Brian Burch, an ideal choice as America’s new ambassador to the Vatican. He humbly asks for prayers that he “may serve honorably and faithfully in the noble adventure ahead.” He will need them, especially given his opponents back home.