Trump’s nominee for Holy See grilled on China-Vatican relations
The Catholic Herald• April 10, 2025
President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as Vatican ambassador for the US responded to a range of important Catholic-related questions during a Senate confirmation hearing on April 8.
The issues covered during the hearing included religious persecution, USAID cuts and the relationship between the Vatican and the Chinese Communist Party, reports US-based media CatholicVote.
Before his nomination for the ambassadorial role, Brian Burch as president of the pro-Republican CatholicVote website oversaw its heavy support for Trump during the latter’s re-election campaign in 2024. Burch’s nomination by Trump for the Holy See role is seen as a reward in some quarters.
Sen. Pete Ricketts, Republican-Nebraska, asked Burch about the controversial 2018 secret deal between the Vatican and China, which Pope Francis renewed in 2024 for another four years. Ricketts noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping has authorised the construction of “state-approved, state-controlled Catholic churches”, arguing that this is intensifying the Communist Chinese government’s persecution of religious minorities.
The senator also noted that the first Trump administration urged the Vatican to end the agreement, before asking Burch if he agreed that the deal represents “a dangerous level of cooperation” between the Catholic Church and communist China.
Burch told the committee that he wants to work with the Holy See on the issue of bishops’ appointments in China. He emphasised that the Vatican-China relationship is incredibly important to the US and noted that the agreement primarily pertains to the appointment of bishops.
“I think it’s important for the Holy See to maintain a posture of pressure, and of applying pressure to the Chinese government around their human rights abuses, particularly their persecution of religious minorities, including Catholics,” Burch said.
If appointed as US ambassador to the Holy See, Bruch said he would encourage the Vatican “to resist the idea that a foreign government has any role whatsoever in choosing the leadership of a private religious institution”.
“I do not believe the Church should cede or surrender to any government, China or otherwise, the selection of their bishops,” he said, adding that the implications extend beyond a conflict between Church and state.
The Vatican is the only European state that maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan, he noted. He then argued that the relationship between the Vatican and Taiwan can help dissuade China from more nefarious ambitions related to Taiwan, especially because the Vatican commands moral authority, respect and global influence, CatholicVote reports.
Committee Chairman Sen. Jim Risch, Republican-Idaho, asked Burch about bringing more attention toward Christian persecution around the world.
In his response, Burch emphasised that the US and the Vatican share common ground in their concern for persecuted religious minorities – particularly of Christians. He noted that persecution of Christians is especially rampant in the Middle East, Nicaragua and parts of Africa.
Burch said that if he is confirmed as ambassador, he looks forward to collaborating and working with the Vatican on this issue.
Sen. Jeane Shaheen, Democrat-New Hampshire, pressed Burch on questions related to the Trump administration’s USAID funding cuts, which have drawn significant criticism, including from Catholic charities.
Burch emphasised that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the president are working to realign US values with the allocation of taxpayer-funded international aid.
“Millions, if not billions, of our dollars have been going to places around the world that are not aligned with United States interests,” Burch said. “The secretary [of state] has made clear when he took office that he was recharging and refocusing our foreign aid on places that would make America safer, stronger and more prosperous.”
He brought up one instance in which taxpayer funds were reportedly used in support of “transgender” experiments on mice.
Burch also said he had spoken with leaders at various Catholic relief services groups and that some of the related grants were recently reauthorised or are pending review. Burch said that the reevaluation of the foreign aid grants is ongoing, and he looks forward to working on this issue as well.
In introducing Burch, Ricketts described the CatholicVote president and co-founder as a “champion of the poor, the vulnerable and pre-born babies”, and as “a man of great integrity with a passion for truth, justice and patriotism”.
Ricketts said the far-reaching effects of the role of US ambassador to the Holy See were proven during the Reagan administration, when the ambassador facilitated the relationship between President Ronald Reagan and Pope Saint John Paul II.
The famous friendship and collaboration between the President and the Pope “ultimately led to the downfall of the Soviet Union,” Ricketts said. “This relationship between the Holy See and the United States is no less important today.”
Photo: Brian Burch during his Senate confirmation hearing (screenshot from video of hearing).