The incoming president announced on Dec. 20 that he would nominate Brian Burch, president of the political advocacy group CatholicVote.org, as his next ambassador to the Holy See. Burch's nomination will now require U.S. Senate confirmation and agreement from the Holy See before he can officially take up his post.
"He represented me well during the last Election, having garnered more Catholic votes than any Presidential Candidate in History!" wrote Trump in a statement. "Brian loves his Church and the United States - He will make us all proud."
Trump's choice of Burch to represent him here in Rome is certain to raise eyebrows inside the Vatican, as he has long expressed criticism of the Francis papacy.
Following Francis' 2023 decision to allow priests to bless individuals in same-sex unions, Burch blasted the pope for creating "confusion" within the Catholic Church. He went on to predict that the now 88-year-old pontiff would not be in office much longer and that the next pope must "clarify" the confusion of the Francis era.
On other occasions, he has criticized Francis' governance for what he characterized as a "pattern of vindictiveness."
Burch's CatholicVote.org group has been a longtime supporter of Trump, endorsing him early on in the 2024 Republican primary for president. But his advocacy on behalf of the president marks a noticeable pivot from when, in 2016, he signed a manifesto declaring Trump to be "manifestly unfit to be president of the United States."
In a statement on social media, Burch said he was honored to take up the new role.
"I am committed to working with leaders inside the Vatican and the new Administration to promote the dignity of all people and the common good," he wrote. "I look forward to the confirmation process and the opportunity to continue to serve my country and the Church. To God be the glory."