US President Donald Trump’s new ambassador to the Vatican, Brian Burch, has made a diplomatic gesture by presenting Pope Leo XIV with a chocolate birthday cake during their meeting at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace. The cake, decorated with a red “happy birthday” sign, was from Portillo’s, a popular Chicago-area dining chain known for its hot dogs, Italian beef and BBQ ribs.

Pope Leo, who turned 70 on Sunday, reportedly laughed when presented with the cake. “Portillo’s sent it to you,” Burch told the pope, to which Leo responded, “And you brought it.” 

Burch, a right-wing Catholic and frequent critic of Pope Francis, had previously expressed concerns about Francis’ pastoral agenda, particularly its more welcoming stance towards LGBTQ Catholics, which Burch believed caused “massive confusion.” 

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