Pope Names Veteran Vatican Diplomat as US Ambassador

Archbishop Gabriele Caccia to manage relations with Trump administration

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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Pope Leo XIV has named veteran Vatican diplomat Archbishop Gabriele Caccia as the new apostolic nuncio, or ambassador, to the United States. Caccia will be tasked with managing the Holy See's crucial relationship with the U.S. government and church at a time of global turmoil, including tensions over the Trump administration's policies on Iran, immigration, and the use of military force.

Why it matters

The relationship between the Vatican and the U.S. government and Catholic Church is of vital importance, as U.S. Catholics are the largest donors to the Holy See's coffers. Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pope, has emphasized messages of pacification and unity in the church, which will be tested in his dealings with the more conservative U.S. Catholic leadership and the Trump administration's policies.

The details

Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, 68, is a veteran Vatican diplomat who has served as the Holy See's ambassador to the United Nations in New York since 2019. He previously served as the Vatican's ambassador to Lebanon and the Philippines. Caccia will replace the retiring 80-year-old Cardinal Christophe Pierre as the apostolic nuncio in Washington, D.C.

  • Pope Leo XIV named Caccia as the new U.S. ambassador on March 7, 2026.
  • Caccia's appointment comes as the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence is marked this year.

The players

Pope Leo XIV

The first U.S.-born pope, who has emphasized messages of pacification and unity in the church.

Archbishop Gabriele Caccia

A veteran Vatican diplomat who will serve as the new apostolic nuncio, or ambassador, to the United States.

Cardinal Christophe Pierre

The retiring 80-year-old apostolic nuncio in Washington, D.C.

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley

The current president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, who welcomed Caccia's appointment.

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What they’re saying

“I receive this mission with both joy and a sense of trepidation.”

— Archbishop Gabriele Caccia (Vatican News)

“We offer our warmest welcome and our prayerful support.”

— Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, President, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (Associated Press)

What’s next

Caccia will assume his new role as apostolic nuncio to the United States in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

Pope Leo XIV's appointment of the veteran Vatican diplomat Caccia to manage relations with the Trump administration underscores the crucial importance of the Vatican's relationship with the U.S. government and Catholic Church, as the U.S. remains the largest donor to the Holy See's coffers.