The appointment of Gabriele Caccia, 68 years old, comes at a time of tension, marked by the war in Iran and the Trump administration’s immigration policies
Pope Leo XIV on Saturday named a veteran Vatican diplomat as ambassador to the United States, who will have to manage one of the Holy See’s most important bilateral relationships at a crucial time.
The appointment of the new person responsible, Gabriele Cacciatakes place amidst the tension of the war in Iran and the repression of immigration by the Trump administration. The 68-year-old Italian archbishop is now the Ambassador of the Holy See to the United States, in New York.
Replaces the French cardinal Christophe Pierre, who retired at age 80 as apostolic nuncio to Washington.
Gabriele Hunting served as Ambassador of the Holy See to Lebanon and the Philippinesbefore being placed in the United States, in 2019. Ordained a priest in Milan in 1983, the Italian archbishop later served as advisor at the Vatican Secretariat of Statea key administrative post in the Holy See’s most important office.
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Pierre’s tenure as ambassador was marked by clear signs of friction between the leadership of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, conservative tendency, and the most progressive priorities of Pope Francis.
The relationship with the USA and its church is crucial for the Holy Seenot just because North American Catholics are some of the most generous donors to the Holy See’s coffers.
Leo, the first North American Pope in history, is well aware of the dynamics, having served as Francis’ main advisor in the appointment of bishops during the two years leading up to his electionem 2025.
Leo XIV opposes the US aggressive use of military power
The Pope has emphasized a message of pacification and unity in the church. Trump’s first administration entered into conflict with Francisco especially over immigration and this tension continued into Leo’s pontificate and Trump’s second term.
Leo has repeatedly insisted that the Trump administration respects the human dignity of migrantswhile recognizing the right to its borders.
More recently, the Pope expressed “deep concern” with the US and Israeli war in Iran, urging both sides to stop “spiral of violence” before turning into a “irreversible abyss”.
In statements last Saturday, Leão appealed to diplomacy. Guns, he said, only sow “destruction, suffering and death.”
In an important speech on foreign policy at the beginning of the year, Leão also made it clear that if opposed the aggressive use of military power by the United Statesin an apparent reference to Washington’s incursion into Venezuela and threats to take over Greenland.
