The Senate Saturday afternoon voted 49-44 to confirm CatholicVote’s cofounder and former longtime president as the nation’s Ambassador to the Holy See.
In a press release issued after the confirmation, CatholicVote highlighted the significance of Burch’s new role as a representative to the first American-born Pope.
“Burch, who resides in Chicago and served as CatholicVote’s President for seventeen years, will now represent the United States government to Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope and a Chicago-native himself,” the statement pointed out.
Burch issued a statement expressing his thanks after the vote.
“Words cannot express my gratitude to all those that have helped me achieve this important position, most especially my wife Sara, my 9 beautiful children, my CatholicVote team, and all those who supported me in this journey,” Burch said. “I am especially grateful to the example of my father, who passed to eternal life last year, who taught me to love the Church and the profound blessings and responsibilities of being a citizen of the United States.”
“The Catholic Church is the largest and most important religious institution in the world, and its relationship to the United States is of vital importance,” Burch added. “I am committed to working with leaders inside the Vatican and the Trump administration to promote the dignity of all people and the common good.”
Kelsey Reinhardt, named CatholicVote’s second president in June, celebrated Burch’s confirmation.
“CatholicVote joyfully celebrates the confirmation of Brian Burch to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, the governing body of the largest and most important religious institution in the world,” said Reinhardt. “For the past 17 years, Brian has faithfully championed CatholicVote’s mission to inspire American Catholics to live their faith in public life. We are confident that he will similarly excel in this new role and are forever grateful for the foundation he laid and the impact he had on millions of Catholics across the Nation.”
Reinhardt also expressed excitement about Burch and Pope Leo, two Chicagoans, pursuing the shared interests of the Church and the United States.
“CatholicVote cannot wait to see all that Ambassador Burch will accomplish in this new mission with Pope Leo XIV,” she said. “Together, they will surely make Chicago and America proud. We are praying for his success through the intercession of St. Peter.”
Burch co-founded CatholicVote in 2005 as a lay advocacy group dedicated to inspiring Catholics across the nation to bring their faith into public life.
“The organization has since grown into a leading voice for Catholic advocacy, reaching millions of Catholics in the United States and internationally,” CatholicVote’s statement continued. “Burch’s leadership has been recognized with various awards, such as the Cardinal John O’Connor Defender of the Faith Award from Legatus and the St. Juan Diego Leadership Award from Tepeyac Leadership. He was also president of Seton Academy Catholic Montessori School in Villa Park, Illinois.”
