By 
After the Vatican reframed statements that U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch made to The New York Times, the ambassador has clarified that he understands Pope Leo XIV’s role as a head of state is “inseparable” from his role as the universal shepherd of the Church.
During a July 23 interview with the EWTN News program “The World Over with Raymond Arroyo,” Burch clarified that his July 9 comments to the Times were not meant to imply that Leo’s statements about Iran war policy should be seen as simply diplomatic — rather than spiritual — guidance.
“I think thereʼs a misunderstanding,” Burch explained. “… [The role of] the pope as the universal sovereign of the Holy See and as the universal pastor — a pastor of the universal Church — is inseparable.”
The controversy stemmed from a quotation in the Times article in which Burch said: “When the pope acts as the sovereign leader of the Holy See, he is coequal with world leaders.” The article also paraphrased Burch’s position by saying the ambassador argued that the pope’s comments about the Iran war were not made as the vicar of Christ but rather as the political leader of the Vatican City State.
Without naming Burch, the Editorial Director for the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, Andrea Tornielli, subsequently wrote a July 13 op-ed saying that “even when he speaks about war and peace … the Successor of Peter remains, above all, a spiritual leader.” Even though Leo is a head of state, he wrote, this “does not mean that he acts or speaks as a politician when addressing issues concerning the affairs of humanity.”
In his interview with Arroyo, Burch disputed the Times’ characterization of his views, saying the outlet “doesnʼt exactly understand the nuances of Catholic social teaching and how to apply it.”
“The pope has this dual role,” Burch said. “He is both the head of the sovereign territory of the Holy See, which has diplomatic relations with the world, but inseparable from that is his role as the universal pastor of the Catholic Church. And when he acts, he certainly acts in such a way to call the world to these high moral principles, to the ideals of … how [humanity] ought to live together.”
At the same time, Burch insisted that “there are some very difficult, contingent, practical matters” that play into decisions about going to war, which he said “is the responsibility of the prudential wisdom of those responsible for the common good,” which are political leaders like President Trump.
“I tried to explain [to the Times] where there are certain prudential questions,” Burch said. “For example, what does the intelligence information tell us about the situation in Iran? Where is the dialogue at? What [do] the regional alliances look like? What [does] the war game scenario implicate?”
“These are very contingent, prudential questions that inform this question on the legitimate use of force,” he added. “And I think, to the Holy Fatherʼs credit, he is the universal shepherd that is calling humanity to this high ideal to try to resolve these sorts of conflicts without violence, without the use of force.”
Burch told Arroyo that he does not see disagreement between Trump and Leo on the intended end goal: “Thereʼs no disagreement on peace, on disarming Iran, on the need for interreligious dialogue, for religious freedom.”
“Where the challenge comes is the means to get there,” Burch said. He added that it’s not “a surprise, nor a shock, nor an unwelcome message from the Holy Father that we ought to seek peace, that we ought to seek ways to resolve these sorts of conflicts without the use of force.”
“But as you know, original sin exists, and there are evil people in this world with evil intentions that, if they arenʼt stopped, certainly could do enormous damage, catastrophic damage, in the world,” the ambassador emphasized.
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We read: “…And when he acts, he certainly acts in such a way to call the world to these high moral principles, to the ideals of … how [humanity] ought to live together.”
Clarifying the clarification, the principles are moral imperatives of the natural law, not quite the same as “ideals” in the possibly Kantian sense.
Pope St. John Paul II restores the distinction: “…the commandment of love of God and neighbor does not have in its dynamic any higher limit [ideals?], but it does have a lower limit, beneath which the commandment is broken” (Veritatis Splendor, 1993, n. 52).
Burch is such an embarrassment. Imagine considering yourself a ‘serious Catholic’ and then having a dark night of the soul over whether you should adhere to the witness of MAGA or the bishop of Rome.
Then again, not surprising for a guy who would try to ignore pro-abortion aspects of Trumpworld (ex: Melania’s rabid embrace of abortion in her book) while he was editor of Catholic Vote.
Burch is pure MAGA. Trump could say literally anything and Burch would enthusiastically go along. It’s like North Korea. Can anyone in MAGA demonstrate independent thought?
The Pope needs to stay in his own lane. Politics is not his bailiwick nor his expertise. He should spebd his time dealing with the scandal of Rupnick and the Jesuits.
How’s that Iranian War going? Regime change yet? Will we be any better off after the war than before? No. This war is a colossal mistake, and we will be worse off because of it. Do you actually believe the lies of the Administration? How naive.
It’s not either or but both and. Don’t you understand that he wears two hats?
Burch serves at the will, wish, and whim of the president of the US, with the American taxpayers paying his salary. Nevertheless, Burch clarifies the clarification according to the Vatican and “to the Holy Father’s credit.” Whether Burch spoke incorrectly, whether the pope spoke as the Vicar of Christ, whether the pope spoke as head of state or inseparably, what difference does it make? The pope will have Burch’s American hot dog and apple pie exactly as and when the pope does want them. Aye, aye, Your Holiness!
I was saying Trump says he listens to folks.
‘ This fight against a shared ideological enemy – one hostile to traditional societies, national identities, and ordered liberty – offers common ground. Powers such as China and Russia, with their own experiences managing ideological extremism and emphasis on domestic order, might stand to benefit from – and contribute to – practical cooperation in safeguarding stability and development. ‘
https://www.rt.com/news/643395-trump-far-left-terrorism/
James O’Connor: don’t you understand that the pope is not an elected politician?
The killing of Khomeini, Iran’s religious leader and head of state plus a large percentage of his governmental, military leadership in a military strike suggested and led by Israel with U.S. approbation was immoral.
So far the outcome of this war with Iran justifies Pope Leo’s opposition.
Throughout history, the position of the Pope has been political. The emphasis of political over spiritual has flip-flopped or merged according to the times. Today we see when the Pope talks, two sides are formed.. We forget there are no political yard signs on the narrow road to heaven.
No Burch, no misunderstanding at all, but ears that don’t hear and a mind controlled by others.
If only this Pope would say what he means and means what he says while clearly differentiating between a prudential personal opinion and a dogmatic teaching of the Church. He should not share his prudential (Sophist) opinion as dogmatic teaching from his bully pulpit which is simple misrepresentation of the teaching of the Church which this Pope apparently desires and plans to implement, to reduce to practice in the modern Church of Brussels or Peking.