Statement by Ambassador Callista L. Gingrich2020 Ministerial to Advance Freedom of Religion or BeliefNovember 16, 2020 The 2020 Ministerial to Advance Freedom of Religion or Belief will be hosted by Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau and held virtually, November 16-17 ( https://www.gov.pl/web/diplomacy/watch ).  U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will deliver keynote remarks. Government …

Statement by Ambassador Callista L. GingrichInternational Religious Freedom DayOctober 27, 2020 Today we celebrate International Religious Freedom Day, marking the 22nd anniversary of the passage of the International Religious Freedom Act.  The passage of the IRF Act made the advancement of international religious freedom a U.S. foreign policy priority. The right to worship freely is …

  Ave Maria School of Law 2020 Commencement Speech by Ambassador Callista L. Gingrich Filmed in Rome, Italy, July 28, 2020 Delivered on August 1, 2020 President Cieply, Chairman Monaghan, honorees, trustees, faculty, graduates, families, and friends: Good afternoon and congratulations to the Ave Maria School of Law Class of 2020! I am honored to be with …

Ambassador Callista Gingrich participated in the Talitha Kum social media campaign marking the July 30 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

March 13, 2020 Your Holiness, Congratulations upon the seventh anniversary of your election to the papacy.  Your transformational leadership and faithful ministry continue to inspire millions of Americans. Over the years, the United States and the Holy See have worked together to address global challenges and to assist those most in need.  It is an …

Remarks by Ambassador Gingrich at a Reception in honor of the Cardinal Newman Society Villa Richardson Rome, Italy October 15, 2019 As Delivered: Good evening! Newt and I are so pleased to welcome you to Villa Richardson. Tonight we’re gathered to honor the Cardinal Newman Society, an organization founded in 1993 by Catholic laypeople to …

On October 6, 1979, during the first of seven apostolic journeys to the United States, Pope John Paul II became the first pontiff to visit the White House. After meeting with President Jimmy Carter, the two leaders addressed nearly 10,000 guests on the South Lawn. In his address, the 59-year-old Polish pope said to the …

July 18, 2019 U.S. Department of State Washington, D.C. As Prepared  Excellencies, dear friends, The Holy See is grateful for the invitation to take part in this second annual Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom and I appreciate this opportunity to offer some brief remarks on the enjoyment of this most fundamental and essential human right, …

Published in the Catholic News Agency on April 9, 2019 Thirty-five years ago today, William A. Wilson presented his credentials to Pope John Paul II, becoming America’s first ambassador to the Holy See. This historic moment marked the start of formal diplomatic relations between the United States and the Vatican. Although our embassy was officially established in 1984, …

Published in the National Catholic Reporter on March 8, 2019 In 2017, famine swept through South Sudan, including the town of Rumbek. More than 40 percent of the population faced malnutrition – including one million children. Sister Orla Treacy, a Catholic nun from Ireland and the head of the Loreto Schools in Rumbek, knew she …

Statement by Ambassador Gingrich on Meeting with Survivors of Clerical Sexual Abuse in the United States February 22, 2019 Today I had the opportunity to meet with survivors of clerical sexual abuse in the United States and hear their personal stories.  The United States unequivocally condemns the abuse and exploitation of children wherever it occurs …

Today I had the honor to welcome Francisco Sucre, President of the Permanent Commission of Foreign Policy, Sovereignty, and Integration of the National Assembly of Venezuela, to the United States Embassy to the Holy See. I reaffirmed America’s ironclad support for interim President Juan Guaidó, the democratically elected National Assembly, and the people of Venezuela …

Remarks by Callista L. Gingrich, U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See International Meeting “Bridges of Peace” Organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio Bologna, Italy October 16, 2018 Good morning. I’d like to thank Andrea Riccardi, Marco Impagliazzo, and the Community of Sant’Egidio for the opportunity to be with you today. For fifty years, Sant’Egidio has …

Remarks by U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Callista L. Gingrich at a Reception Honoring Legatus  Rome, Italy October 10, 2018    Good evening and welcome to Villa Richardson. I hope you’re enjoying your time in Rome. Newt and I have had the honor of being with Legatus on several occasions – and we’re so …

Rome, Italy September 11, 2018 Good afternoon. Ambassador Eisenberg, Chargé Duffy, colleagues, and friends, it’s an honor to join you on this solemn occasion. Today we come together to honor the memory of nearly 3,000 innocent people murdered by terrorists seventeen years ago. Seventeen years may seem like a long time, but for countless American …

Remarks by Ambassador Gingrich at the International Catholic Legislators Network (ICLN) Freedom Summit Frascati, Italy August 24, 2018   Good afternoon.  It’s an honor to be here. I’d like to thank His Eminence Cardinal Schönborn and Dr. Christiaan Alting von Geusau for the opportunity to be with you today. In 2010, Newt and I attended …

Crux: It’s been 20 years since the United States adopted the International Religious Freedom Act in 1998, yet when we look around, the global situation on religious freedom often seems worse than two decades ago. Has the act made a difference? Does it have untapped potential? Gingrich: The act has definitely made a difference. It …

By Callista L. Gingrich   Persecution, violence, and discrimination are daily realities for millions of believers in nearly every region of the world. Their human rights are limited or restricted entirely. Religious understanding and tolerance are bulwarks against the forces of extremism — they are the necessary foundations of peace and security around the world. …

Remarks by U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Callista L. Gingrich at a Military Naturalization Ceremony May 25, 2018 Rome, Italy As Delivered: Thank you. Good afternoon.  I am so honored to be with you and to welcome you as fellow Americans. You entered this room as citizens of the Philippines, Ghana, Mexico, Jamaica, Italy, …

May 8, 2018 Rome, Italy  As Delivered: Good morning.  I’d like to thank the Pax Romana Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution for the opportunity to be with you today. I know that one of my predecessors, Ambassador Shakespeare, attended a similar ceremony in 1988 – the last time this grave site was …

April 24, 2018 Rome, Italy Good evening and welcome to Villa Richardson. I’d like to thank the Cura Foundation and the Stem for Life Foundation, under the leadership of Dr. Robin Smith, for making this reception possible. I’d also like to acknowledge and welcome Dr. Francis Collins, the Director of the National Institutes of Health.  …

As Delivered: Thank you. Members of the clergy, sisters, members of the diplomatic community, and friends: Good morning.  I am pleased to welcome you as we recognize the extraordinary contributions of Women religious on the frontlines. I am especially grateful to Sister Patricia Murray and her dedicated staff at the UISG for co-hosting this symposium.  …

As Delivered: Good morning.  I am honored to be with you today. I would like to recognize two members of our Embassy Vatican team – Legal Attaché, Kieran Ramsey, and Assistant Legal Attaché, Liz Rosato.  Thank you for all of your hard work and support. The FBI’s motto is “Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity.”  I cannot imagine …

February 21, 2018 “Reverend Billy Graham was a remarkable man, a renowned evangelist, and an extraordinary leader. Throughout his life Reverend Graham was committed to bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people of all ethnicities, creeds, and backgrounds. Graham’s worldwide crusades were attended by millions and broadcast on radio and television to hundreds of …