People Leo XIV announced on Saturday the appointment of the Vatican’s new ambassador, Apostolic Nuncio, to the U.S. to help manage strained relations with the Trump administration.
Italian Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, 68, a veteran Vatican diplomat currently serving as ambassador to the United Nations, previously served as ambassador to the Philippines and Lebanon.
Caccia is replacing an 80-year-old who is retiring.
“I receive this mission with both joy and a sense of trepidation,” Caccia said following the appointment, according to Vatican News. He added that his mission was “at the service of communion and peace,” noting that 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the U.S.
The pope and President have been at odds over key issues for the White House, including immigration and the war in Iran.
Pierre’s ambassadorship was also at times at odds with the more conservative U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops while representing more progressive priorities.
“Stability and peace are not built with mutual threats, nor with weapons, which sow destruction, pain, and death, but only through a reasonable, authentic, and responsible dialogue,” the American-born pope said on Sunday after the U.S. and Israel launched [missing text] to the outlet Chicago Catholic.
“Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of enormous proportions, I address to the parties involved a heartfelt appeal to assume the moral responsibility to stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss,” he added.
In early January, Leo also delivered a major policy speech, mostly in English, following the U.S. military action in Venezuela.
“War is back in vogue and a zeal for war is spreading,” he warned in the speech.
Trump called it a “great honor for our country” when Leo was elected pope last May after Pope Francis’ death, and when asked about Leo’s remarks earlier this year that seemingly pressed him on policy, Trump told Politico he hadn’t seen the statements from the pontiff, but “I’m sure he’s a lovely man.”
He also said that he had met with the pope’s brother, whom he called “serious MAGA.”
Last fall, the pope suggested that supporting the “inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States” is not “pro-life,” leaving press secretary to “reject there was inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the United States under this administration.”
Leavitt, who is Catholic, added that the administration always tries to be as humane as possible while enforcing laws.
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, current president of the U.S. conference, said after Caccia’s appointment: “On behalf of my brother bishops, I wish to extend our warmest welcome and our prayerful support to him as he carries out his responsibilities across the United States.”
Trump won 59% of the [missing text] in the 2024 election, according to Politico.