25-10 - Flipbook - Page 32
Hephzibah
Ministries
Closer Than ever: The vaTiCan and ameriCa’s deepening Bond
The relationship between the United States and the Vatican has always carried symbolic and political weight, but recent developments have given it new momentum. With the appointment of Brian
Francis Burch II as the new U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, a unique connection has been
forged between Washington and Rome.
Burch, nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the US Senate in August 2025, is
not only a committed Catholic but also a fellow Chicagoan of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. The fact that both men share roots in Chicago, Illinois, has added a deeply personal and intimate dimension to their diplomatic partnership, making this the first time in history that
an American Pope and a U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican come from the same city.
This shared experience carries more than symbolic gestures. The Vatican is a global moral authority with influence that extends far beyond the boundaries of the Catholic Church. The United States,
on the other hand, remains the dominant political and military player on the world stage. Together,
they represent a union of unparalleled moral influence and geopolitical power. Their shared Catholic
heritage and Chicago roots provide an opportunity to facilitate stronger ties.
Yet the closeness between these two actors is not without risks. Revelation 13 describes the rise of
two great powers in the last days: the first beast, representing the Roman Papacy, and the second
beast, which Bible prophecy has identified with the United States. This second beast is described
as having
