IMAGE: CNS photo/Jonathan Ernst, Reuters
By
WASHINGTON
(CNS) — The Senate confirmed Callista Gingrich as the new U.S. ambassador to
the Holy See.
Voting
late Oct. 16, senators approved her nomination 70-23. More than 20 Democrats
joined Republicans in supporting Gingrich, the wife of former House Speaker
Newt Gingrich, a vocal ally of President Donald Trump.
Gingrich,
51, a lifelong Catholic and a former congressional aide, has been president of
Gingrich Productions, a multimedia production
and consulting company in Arlington, Virginia, since 2007.
She was
expected to present her credentials at the Vatican in the coming weeks.
Gingrich’s
associates welcomed the vote. Among them was Msgr. Walter R. Rossi, rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of
the Immaculate Conception in Washington,
where Gingrich has been a longtime member of the choir.
“Callista has been part
of our shrine family for two decades and so, as any family rejoices when good
news arrives, we rejoice with Callista,” Msgr. Rossi said in an Oct. 17 statement.
“Both Callista and Speaker Gingrich are wonderful supporters of our
ministry here at Mary’s shrine, most especially our music program.
“More
importantly, Callista has a great love for the church and our country,” he added. “Her
faith is an integral part of her life and I am confident that her faith will be
her solid foundation as she enters a new service to church and nation.”
The
Bethlehem University Foundation wished Gingrich “great success in her new
role.” The Gingrichs have been foundation patrons, serving as advisers to
its executive director and donors.
During
her confirmation hearing July 18, Gingrich emphasized her desire to work with the
Vatican to protect religious freedom and human rights, fight terrorism and
human trafficking, and seek peaceful solutions to international crises.
Gingrich
also explained under sharp questioning that the U.S. wanted to be a leader in
addressing environmental issues despite initiating efforts to withdraw from the
Paris climate agreement. She said the White House was committed to sustaining
“our clean air and our clean water.”
“We
are all called to be stewards of the land,” she said, echoing a common theme
expressed by Pope Francis.
In
2010, Gingrich’s company released the film “Nine Days That Changed the
World” about St. John Paul II’s nine-day pilgrimage to Poland in 1979 and
how it played a part in the fall of communism in Europe. She also has written the
“Ellis the Elephant” children’s American history series and co-authored “Rediscovering God in America.”
Gingrich
graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, in 1988, majoring in music, a
passion that has remained with her throughout life. She served as a
congressional aide for more than 30 years.
She is the third woman to serve as ambassador to the
Holy See after Lindy Boggs, who held the post from 1997 to 2001, and Mary Ann
Glendon, who served in 2008-2009. Gingrich succeeds Ambassador Ken Hackett,
who retired in January.
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