Pope Leo receives credentials of U.S. ambassador to the Holy See

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The new U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Francis Burch, presented his credentials to Pope Leo XIV this morning, Sept. 13, during a private audience in the library of the Apostolic Palace, the Vatican confirmed. The 50-year-old ambassador, wearing a black tailcoat, met the pope with his wife, Sara, their nine children, as well as a daughter-in-law and granddaughter. The United States has been without an ambassador to the Holy See since July 8, 2024, when Joe Donnelly resigned his post to return to the United States, after serving as ambassador since February 2022. Ambassador @BrianBurchUS brought #PopeLeoXIV a cake for his 70th birthday tomorrow, and it looks like some of his children made birthday cards. Before his appointment as ambassador, Mr. Burch combined business experience with nonprofit leadership and Catholic civic engagement.