Trump’s Vatican envoy courts Pope Leo with a birthday cake
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Pope Leo XIV receives the letters of credence from US ambassador to the Holy See Brian Francis Burch at the Vatican on Sept 13.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
VATICAN CITY - US President Donald Trump’s new envoy to the Vatican tried to sweeten his diplomacy on Sept 13 in a meeting with Pope Leo by giving the pontiff a chocolate birthday cake.
Mr Brian Burch – a right-wing Catholic who was sharply critical of the late Pope Francis – gave the pontiff, the first Pope from the United States, a cake made by a Chicago-area dining chain, as part of a meeting at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace to formally present his diplomatic credentials.
Pope Leo, originally from Chicago and elected in May to replace Francis, turns 70 on Sept 14. The cake, decorated with a red happy birthday sign, came from Portillo’s, a popular local chain known especially for its hot dogs, Italian beef and BBQ ribs.
Mr Burch was a frequent critic of Francis, who led the 1.4 billion-member Church for 12 years. He said the late Pope’s pastoral agenda, such as being more welcoming of LGBTQ Catholics, caused “massive confusion”.
One papal advisor suggested the Vatican might refuse to accredit Mr Burch when Mr Trump nominated him in 2024, which the Vatican did not do.
Pope Leo laughed on Sept 13 when presented with the cake. “Portillo’s sent it to you,” Mr Burch told the pontiff, according to handout video. The Pope responded: “And you brought it.” REUTERS
