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Posted on 07/06/2026 6:24:07 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Pope Leo XIV marked the evening of July 4 with an extraordinary and historic gesture of friendship toward the U.S., joining the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch and his family for a celebratory Independence Day dinner at the ambassador’s residence in Rome.
The dinner took place only hours after the Holy Father visited the Italian island of Lampedusa, long known as one of Europe’s most visible points of arrival for migrants crossing the Mediterranean. The timing gave the day unusual symbolic weight: the first American pope spent the morning drawing attention to the dignity of migrants and the evening honoring the country of his birth as it celebrated 250 years since the Declaration of Independence.
The dinner was held in the residence’s dining room, where the table was decorated with red, white, and blue centerpieces and American flags.
After dinner, Pope Leo and Ambassador Burch spent time together in the garden of Villa Richardson, the 19th-century residence situated on Rome’s Janiculum Hill, one of the city’s most historically significant overlooks.
The visit was unscheduled and unprecedented: the first known visit by a pope to the residence of a foreign ambassador accredited to the Holy See.
That fact alone would make the evening remarkable. But coming on the Fourth of July, in the middle of America’s semiquincentennial year, the gesture carried an unmistakable message. Pope Leo XIV, while fully occupying the universal mission of the papacy, chose to show public warmth toward his homeland at a moment when the United States is reflecting on its founding, its ideals, and its role in the world.
Earlier in the day, the Holy Father’s visit to Lampedusa had been widely interpreted through the lens of immigration, human dignity, and the Church’s concern for those who risk their lives in search of safety and freedom. The evening dinner at the U.S. ambassador’s residence added another dimension to the day: a sign that the Pope’s moral concern for migrants does not diminish his affection for the United States.
Ambassador Burch, the former president and co-founder of CatholicVote and a longtime Catholic civic leader, presented his credentials to Pope Leo XIV in September 2025. His appointment marked the beginning of a new and unusual chapter in U.S.-Holy See relations: an American ambassador serving under the first American pope.
"It was a profound honor to welcome His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to my home to celebrate America's 250th anniversary of our independence," Burch told Zeale News. "We shared a classic American meal and discussed the enduring friendship between the United States and the Holy See."
Their conversation spanned a range of topics, Burch noted, adding that they talked about "growing up in Chicago, his family and faith, and his leadership as the Supreme Pontiff and of the Holy See."
"We had an encouraging dialogue on President Trump’s bold leadership and commitment to advancing religious freedom, his defense of human life, artificial intelligence, and the pursuit of peace around the world," Burch said. "The Pope was extraordinarily gracious and welcoming to my family. This evening served as a reminder of the closeness of our two nations and the importance of continued cooperation in addressing the many challenges facing our world."
The Pope’s visit to the ambassador’s residence now gives that relationship a striking visual and historical marker.
On a day filled with fireworks, patriotic ceremonies, and national reflection across the United States, Pope Leo XIV’s unscheduled quiet dinner with the Burch family in Rome offered a different kind of Fourth of July image: personal, cordial, and deeply symbolic.
In a touching moment, Burch noted, they closed the evening singing God bless America together.
The first American pope may not have visited the land of his birth for the 250th anniversary of American independence. Yet, on the evening of July 4, he came as close as he could to the U.S. in hills of Rome, where he made it unmistakably clear that America remains close to his heart.
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Very nice article. We don’t see many/enough positive Catholic articles on FR. Thank you!
It can be done, ebby.
He is from Peru
Just a Regular Guy
RE: He is from Peru
Let’s be more accurate. I is from the United States and SERVED in Peru.
RE: He is from Peru
Let’s be more accurate. He is from the United States and SERVED in Peru.
Deep dish pizza?
Yes
Papa was born in Chicago...
Buddies with Axelrod who’s
Arranging a meeting with Obama.
I’m surprised it’s not happened yet.
What is a classic American meal?
“He was based in Rome from 2001 to 2013, and traveled extensively as part of this work, was in Peru from 2015 to 2023, and became a Peruvian citizen.”
So. No. He chose Peru.
They like to portray him around here as som Villanova football playing, win it for the Gipper kind of back slapping Chicagoan
I knew a Villanova all American football player from the 1950s grew up in NY. Have a trophy here given to me by his family
No sale.
I knew a lovely nun who was stationed in Columbia. An in law. She spoke Spanish only. She was a German Texan but adopted Columbia. Good for her. She adopted Columbia.
“ What is a classic American meal?”
Explain your game and I’ll decide whether to jump in
There's a reason why. I hope you're aware Pope Leo, a native citizen of America, was personally invited by President Trump to return to the USA to celebrate her 250th birthday.
Pope Leo declined. Instead, he chose to repeat Pope Francis' political charade to visit Lampedusa to welcome illegal invaders into Europe. During his welcome, Leo blasted Trump's policy of his lawful enforcement of the sovereignty of U.S. borders.
I didn't see one mention of Jesus Christ in the topic article; just secular topics.
Lobster, steak, baked potato with sour cream, asparagus with Hollandaise and Chocolate Mousse for desert...with a few bottles of wine. Cheers!!
Papal Cream Cake
A rich and creamy elegant dessert perfect for any occasion.
Ing 1 1/3 c Butter 2 1/2 c flour 1 med Egg 1/2 tbl Vinegar 1/3 c Warm water 4 1/2 c Milk 4 tbl Butter 4 Egg yolks 2 med Eggs 1 c sugar 2 tsp Vanilla sugar 1 c flour 1/2 c Potato starch Conf sugar garnish
Instructions Homemade puff pastry: Combine butter/flour. Knead smooth. Place between two sheets of saran, flatten into square about 2 cm thick; refrigerate. Mix rest flour w/ egg, vinegar, and enough warm water to form breadlike dough. Rollout on floured surface into a circle. Place chilled butter mixture in center of rolled-out dough. Fold dough over butter like an envelope, sealing edges. Turn the dough seam-side down and roll it into a long 9x13" rectangle about 1 cm thick. Fold dough into thirds like a letter. Lightly roll out, wrap in saran, freezer 15 min. Repeat process three more times, turning dough 90° each time. Cut the dough in half. Roll out each half into a large rectangle. Place one rectangle on parchmented b/sheet, trim edges, prick with a fork. Bake golden 425°F (220°C) for about 15 min. Repeat with second half. Let cool. Cut one baked sheet into squares for top layer.
Vanilla Cream: Btb 750 ml milk, butter, sugar, and vanilla sugar. Whisk rest milk, eggs, egg yolks, flour, potato starch. Add to boiling milk mixture stirring constantly. Cook thickened into a dense custard. Cool slightly, stir occasionally to prevent skin.
Assembly: Place one layer baked puff pastry on server. Pour on warm custard; spread evenly. Cover w/ pre-cut squares of second pastry layer. Fridge a few hours to set. Serve dusted w/ conf.
Chef Notes: Ensure dough is well-chilled between rolling and folding to achieve the best flaky texture. Avoiding Custard Lumps: Stir continuously when adding the egg mixture to the boiling milk to avoid lumps. Serving Tip: For a cleaner cut, use a serrated knife to slice through layers.
There is mention they discussed Trump’s promotion of religious liberty, which definitely includes Christ, or did you intentionally ignore that?
Recall the ambassador for colluding with the new enemy.
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