Pope Leo XIV marks Fourth of July with historic visit to US ambassador’s residence in Rome
The Holy Father's visit was believed to be unprecedented as the first time a pope visited the residence of a foreign ambassador.
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 unprecedented as it was 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 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 by 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.
>> Full Text: Pope Leo XIV marks America’s 250th anniversary in letter to US Catholics <<
