its completely FAKE NEWS. Burch is Ambassador to the Holy See
Posted on 04/10/2026 12:34:43 PM PDT by Antoninus
It is being reported with breathless enthusiasm by the normally Catholic-phobic Left-media that a meeting between Vatican US representative Cardinal Christophe Pierre and Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby back in January of 2026 went sideways in dramatic fashion. Anonymously-sourced reports say that Colby threatened Cardinal Pierre that the US, "has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world. The Catholic Church had better take its side." '
As if that wasn't bad enough, it was reported that "one official present" made reference to the Avignon Papacy — a period spanning nearly 70 years when the Papacy was captured and controlled by the French crown. The so-called Babylonian Captivity of the Papacy lasted from AD 1309 through 1376 and encompassed the reigns of seven recognized Popes, five anti-Popes, and three French kings.
Since this news was first reported, both the Vatican and the Trump Administration have issued vigorous denials, stating that things were completely cordial at the meeting. That said, it seems clear that something happened to make certain parties freak out, but perhaps not the bombshell shouting match between US officials and Vatican liaisons that Left-media wishful thinking attempted to insinuate.
Of course, the historically illiterate or purposely obtuse Left-media immediately made much of the alleged mention of the Avignon Papacy. Stripping the claim of context, they imagined it to be some sort of threat by the US to capture Leo XIV and set him up as Pope-in-Exile under US control, perhaps at Mar-a-Lago.
Assuming that the reference to Avignon happened at all — perhaps a stretch considering how readily the Left-media lies and exaggerates as a matter of course — I have a different interpretation. Perhaps the "one official present" mentioned the Avignon Papacy in the sense that the Papacy has already been captured, and has been in a state of captivity by globalist elites since 2013.
Now admittedly, that may also be a stretch, but let's consider a few facts:
And finally...
Again, I admit that this is all pure speculation. But just perhaps, the Trump administration took LifeSite's suggestion seriously, investigated the Obama administration's role in Benedict XVI's resignation and the election of Francis, and discovered some rather unsettling things.
If Obama Administration officials were implicated in forcing the resignation of a Pope and pushed for the installation of a hand-picked successor, that might create a scenario at least somewhat similar to the politics of the Babylonian Captivity of the Papacy in 14th century Avignon.
So to answer the question posed in the title of this article: No, the Trump administration is not attempting to capture Pope Leo XIV. The administration may, however, be willing to reveal to the world that some parties within the Vatican are more loyal to global politicians than they are to the Holy Father. Such a scenario would explain the freak out and flurry of anonymous leaks to the Left-media about this story.
We shall have to wait and see what, if anything, comes out.
May Almighty God reveal the truth as He sees fit.
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More Leftist claptrap worthy of NPR.
I think the comment about the "Catholic-phobic left media" is dead on the money.
Already debunked by the Vatican as “ fake news”
Catholic Sat
@CatholicSat
·
8h
Vatican release statement on the reporting of the January meeting between Pentagon officials and the Apostolic Nuncio Christophe Cardinal Pierre, saying “The account offered by certain media outlets regarding this meeting does not correspond to the truth in any way.”
Full statement:
“As confirmed by His Excellency Christophe Pierre, former Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, his meeting with Mr. Elbridge Andrew Colby was part of the Pontifical Representative’s regular duties and provided an opportunity for an exchange of views on matters of mutual interest. The account offered by certain media outlets regarding this meeting does not correspond to the truth in any way.”
https://x.com/CatholicSat/status/2042563967483031830?s=20
Pure nonsense. However Pope Leo did spend most of his adult life in Chicago. Since he has made thinly disguised political pronouncements, it would be fair to ask him directly how he voted all those years. Did he vote for the pro abortion Democrats such as Obama, Durbin. Pritzker and Johnson?
its completely FAKE NEWS. Burch is Ambassador to the Holy See
No! 100% fake news, yet surprisingly effective.
President Trump has become a thoroughly non-religious person since his first term, and doesn’t attend church anymore.
There’s a general animus in society and culture against the Catholic faith, even with record numbers of young people converting.
J.D. thinks the abortion pill is just wonderful. Melania is a vehement pro-abort who advocates killing babies with no restrictions. They’re all pro gay marriage, etc etc.
And the language that we see, the hateful rhetoric, “bomb them into the stone age”, “destroy the civilization” etc
Ugly times, ugly culture.
I can see the administration flexing its muscles against Rome. Nothing seems far-fetched anymore.
If you click through to the original article, one of those photos is featured along with a link to Burch’s statement.
The article accepts that the original claims are probably bunk.
To all those reading this headline and not the article!
This is NOT the same story from yesterday about the Vatican envoy at the Pentagon.
This story is about Obama getting Benedict ousted back in 2013 and a Leftwing Pope named Bergoglio appointed via David Axelrod, Barrack’s secret envoy to Rome.
Try some reading, for goodness sakes!
How does the number of young joining compare to the number of the young leaving?
Cloby may have said that the Catholic Chuurch needs to take the U.S. position, because Iran is a threat to the world., or something along that line.
Not the threatening way they imply what went down between the two men. Because sadly, the Catholic Chirch has lost its way, even to the Lord, in my opinion based upon my observations & accusations that have plagued the church for far too many decades now. Lots of smoke, so there must be fire in there as well, and it is still burning.
Clever. Very clever.
Captivate, not capture ...
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