Pope Names New Ambassador to the United States

Pope Leo XIV on Saturday appointed a new ambassador to the United States amid diplomatic tensions linked to the administration of Donald Trump, particularly over the conflict involving Iran and strict migration policies.

The Vatican announced that Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, 68, who previously served as the Holy See’s envoy to the United Nations in New York, has been appointed as apostolic nuncio to Washington.

Caccia replaces Cardinal Christophe Pierre, who is retiring at the age of 80 after nearly a decade in the role.

Leo, the Catholic Church’s first American pope, is navigating a deeply polarised political environment in the United States. While maintaining diplomatic channels with Washington, he has often voiced indirect criticism of certain policies by the Trump administration.

Since his election in May, the Chicago-born pontiff has condemned what he described as the “inhuman” treatment of migrants, called for dialogue with Venezuela and criticised what he termed a “diplomacy of force.”

He has also urged all sides involved in the Middle East conflict triggered by joint Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on Iran to take moral responsibility and halt the escalation of violence before it deepens further.