U.S. Ambassador to Vatican Meets Pope Leo with Birthday Cake Brian Burch, U.S. President Donald Trump’s new ambassador to the Vatican, met with Pope Leo XIV on September 13, 2025.
Burch, a right-wing Catholic and former president of CatholicVote, presented Pope Leo with a chocolate birthday cake from Portillo’s, a popular Chicago-area dining chain.
The cake had a metallic red “Happy Birthday Pope Leo XIV” sign.Burch formally presented his diplomatic credentials to Pope Leo at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace.
Pope Leo XIV turns 70 on September 14, 2025.The meeting was described as “extraordinarily friendly” by Burch, like “talking to a friend back home in Chicago”.
Burch and Pope Leo discussed global challenges like conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, the war in Gaza, protecting religious freedom, the Vatican’s relationship with China, and the AI revolution.
Burch was a frequent critic of the late Pope Francis, particularly regarding his pastoral agenda on LGBTQ+ Catholics.
Burch was nominated by Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a 49-44 vote along party lines.President Trump’s Vetican Envoy Courts Pope Leo With Birthday CakeU.S.
Ambassador to Vatican Meets Pope Leo with Birthday CakeBrian Burch, U.S. President Donald Trump’s new ambassador to the Vatican, met with Pope Leo XIV on September 13, 2025.
Burch, a right-wing Catholic and former president of CatholicVote, presented Pope Leo with a chocolate birthday cake from Portillo’s, a popular Chicago-area dining chain.
The cake had a metallic red “Happy Birthday Pope Leo XIV” sign.Burch formally presented his diplomatic credentials to Pope Leo at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace.Pope Leo XIV turns 70 on September 14, 2025.
The meeting was described as “extraordinarily friendly” by Burch, like “talking to a friend back home in Chicago”.
Burch and Pope Leo discussed global challenges like conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, the war in Gaza, protecting religious freedom, the Vatican’s relationship with China, and the AI revolution.
Burch was a frequent critic of the late Pope Francis, particularly regarding his pastoral agenda on LGBTQ+ Catholics. Burch was nominated by Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a 49-44 vote along party lines.