List of ambassadors of the United States to the Holy See facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ambassador of the United States to the Holy See
Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent Joe Donnelly since April 11, 2022
Nominator	The President of the United States
Appointer	The President with Senate advice and consent
Inaugural holder	William A. Wilson as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Formation	April 9, 1984
Deputy	Theodore Diehl

The Ambassador of the United States to the Holy See is the official person who represents the United States of America to the Holy See. The Holy See is the central government of the Catholic Church. This important role helps the U.S. and the Holy See talk to each other.

Formal diplomatic relations between the U.S. and the Holy See began in 1984. This happened when U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II officially opened relations.

Before 1984, there were some informal connections. In 1933, James Farley, a U.S. Postmaster General, helped improve relations. During World War II, Myron Taylor served as a special representative for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Later, in 1951, President Harry S. Truman tried to appoint Mark W. Clark as an envoy, but it didn't happen.

Between 1951 and 1968, the U.S. did not have an official representative. President Richard Nixon changed this by appointing Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. as his personal representative. President Jimmy Carter later appointed Robert F. Wagner Jr.. All U.S. ambassadors to the Holy See have been members of the Roman Catholic Church. The current ambassador is Joe Donnelly. He started his role on April 11, 2022, after meeting Pope Francis.

How U.S. Relations with the Holy See Began

The United States had diplomatic relations with the Papal States from 1797 to 1867. The Papal States were territories ruled by the Pope. In 1870, the Papal States ceased to exist when their last territory, Rome, became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

After this, the Pope's international status was debated until 1929. That year, the Italian government agreed to create Vatican City. This small area became a sovereign city-state, meaning it was its own independent country.

The U.S. was slow to fully recognize the Holy See again. This was partly because of anti-Catholic feelings in the United States at the time.

Early Connections and Special Envoys

In 1933, James Farley, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Postmaster General, helped improve relations. He visited Pope Pius XI and Cardinal Pacelli (who later became Pope Pius XII).

From 1939 to 1950, Myron Charles Taylor served as a personal representative. He worked for Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman at the Vatican. He was an industrialist and a diplomat.

In 1951, President Truman nominated Mark W. Clark to be an envoy. Clark was a U.S. Army general and a hero from World War II. However, he withdrew his nomination in 1952. This happened after protests from a U.S. Senator and some Protestant groups.

For many years, from 1951 to 1968, the United States had no official representative.

Personal Representatives from U.S. Presidents

In 1969, President Richard Nixon appointed Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. as his personal representative. Lodge was a former U.S. Senator and ambassador to other countries.

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter also appointed a personal representative. This was Robert F. Wagner Jr., who had been the mayor of New York City.

Important U.S. Envoys to the Holy See

Even when there were no official ambassadors, some U.S. Presidents sent special envoys. These people were personal representatives who talked with the Vatican.

• William Howard Taft, 1902–1903 (He later became a U.S. President!)
• Myron Charles Taylor, February 1940–January 1950
• Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., June 1970–July 1977
• David Walters, July 1977–August 1978
• Robert F. Wagner Jr., November 1978–January 1981

List of U.S. Ambassadors to the Holy See

Here is a list of the official U.S. ambassadors who have served the Holy See since 1984:

Image	Name	Years served	Pope	U.S. President
	William Wilson	1984–1986	John Paul II	Ronald Reagan
	Frank Shakespeare	1986–1989
	Thomas Patrick Melady	1989–1993		George H. W. Bush
	Raymond Flynn	1993–1997		Bill Clinton
	Lindy Boggs	1997–2001
	James Nicholson	2001–2005		George W. Bush
	Francis Rooney	2005–2008	Benedict XVI
	Mary Ann Glendon	2008–2009
	Miguel H. Díaz	2009–2012		Barack Obama
	Mario Mesquita (Chargé d'Affaires)	2012–2013
	Ken Hackett	2013–2017	Francis
	Callista Gingrich	2017–2021		Donald Trump
	Patrick Connell (Chargé d'Affaires)	2021–2022		Joe Biden
	Joe Donnelly	2022–present

Images for kids

• 

  John P. Stockton, Minister Resident (1858–1861)

• 

  Alexander Randall, Minister Resident (1862)

• 

  Richard Milford Blatchford, Minister Resident (1862–1863)

• 

  Rufus King, Minister Resident (1864–1867)

See also

• Apostolic Nunciature to the United States
• Embassy of the United States to the Holy See
• Holy See–United States relations