Ambassador Brian Burch has denied claims about the controversial meeting between the former apostolic nuncio and United States officials.

The United States ambassador to the Holy See said on Thursday that he had spoken directly with Cardinal Christophe Pierre, who he said rejected media reports surrounding his meeting with Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby.

“I was pleased to speak today with His Eminence, Cardinal Christophe Pierre,” Burch said in a statement published on social media. “As expected, he confirmed that recent media characterisations of his meeting with Undersecretary Colby are ‘fabrications’ that were ‘just invented.’”

Ambassador Burch added: “Given the intelligence and seriousness of Mr Colby, I was likewise not surprised when His Eminence acknowledged there were no threats of any kind in the meeting. ‘It was a frank and cordial meeting that took place two months ago.’ Threat of Avignon? ‘None.’”

He continued: “Cardinal Pierre has been a regular interlocutor since my nomination. When we disagree, we have done so with sincerity and respect. I believe the same could be said of his January meeting with Undersecretary Colby. It’s regrettable that some journalists and online agitators chose to exploit a routine meeting to sow division between the Holy See and the United States.”

The US Department of War also issued a statement on social media rejecting what it described as inaccurate reporting of the meeting, which took place on 22 January 2026.

“Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby @USWPColby had a substantive, respectful and professional meeting with Cardinal Pierre, the then-papal nuncio, and his team on January 22, 2026. During the cordial meeting, they discussed a range of topics, including issues of morality in foreign policy, the logic of the U.S. National Security Strategy, Europe, Africa, Latin America and other topics. Cardinal Pierre expressed his appreciation for the outreach and both sides looked forward to continued open and respectful dialogue.”

The department added: “In light of grossly false and distorted recent reporting, the Department of War repeats its statement: recent reporting of the meeting is highly exaggerated and distorted. The meeting between Pentagon and Vatican officials was a respectful and reasonable discussion. We have nothing but the highest regard and welcome continued dialogue with the Holy See.”

In a further response published on 9 April, the Department of Defense again stated that “recent reporting of the meeting is highly exaggerated and distorted”, while confirming that the discussion had taken place between Pierre and Colby and their respective staffs.

However, senior officials within the Vatican’s Secretariat of State have confirmed that the meeting did occur, while offering a different account of its tone.

Officials told The Pillar that the discussion focused on public speeches and statements by the Pope on war and peace, particularly in light of US military actions and strategic priorities.

One senior Vatican official described the conversation as “tense” at times and said that US officials had been “aggressive” and “bullying” at points, while also stressing that the exchange remained direct on both sides.

“There was no question of anybody threatening anyone,” the official said, adding that the discussion had been “mutually forthright” and that Cardinal Pierre had been “making himself heard, too.”

Vatican sources also said that they could not recall any reference to the Avignon papacy during the meeting, contradicting claims circulated in some reports.

Despite the disagreement over tone, all sides have confirmed that the meeting addressed a broad range of issues, including moral considerations in foreign policy and regional questions spanning Europe, Africa and Latin America.

Brian Burch came to national prominence as the co-founder and longtime president of CatholicVote, which he led from its founding in 2008 until 2025.

In December 2024, he was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as ambassador to the Holy See. After a delayed confirmation process, he was approved by the U.S. Senate in August 2025 and formally presented his credentials to Pope Leo XIV on 13 September 2025.