Pope Francis received the new ambassador to the Holy See of the United States, Joseph Donnelly, at the Vatican on April 11, 2022, the Holy See Press Office announced. During the audience, Donnelly presented him with his credentials.
The new U.S. ambassador was officially nominated by President Joe Biden on October 8, but was not ratified by the U.S. Senate until January 20. Sworn in on February 16, the diplomat arrived in Rome on April 9 with his family. He is married and has two children.
Born in New York State, Joseph Donnelly is Catholic and of Irish descent, like Joe Biden. He studied law at Notre Dame Catholic University in Indiana, graduating in 1981.
He worked for a time in a law firm before starting a printing and rubber stamp business. At the same time, he entered politics, and in 2004 was elected in Indiana as a congressman for the Democratic Party.
"Joe" Donnelly remained in office until 2012, when he was elected Senator from Indiana. However, he failed to retain his seat in 2018. That same year, he joined a lobbying firm in Washington, D.C., and chose to endorse Joe Biden for the 2020 presidential campaign, particularly seeking to win over Republican voters opposed to Donald Trump.
A pro-life Democrat
On numerous occasions, he has opposed his party's line, particularly on abortion. In this he differs from his co-religionist, President Joe Biden, who recently said he respects pro-life positions but does not share them. Joe Donnelly, reports the Washington Post, has nonetheless actively defended the U.S. president's faith in recent months when it has been challenged for its societal positions by some American Catholics.
At the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See, Joe Connelly takes the place vacated by Callista Gingrich, a businesswoman and wife of former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Republican primary candidate Newt Gingrich. The American, also a Catholic, served in the position between 2017 and 2020.
