Pelosi won’t like this.
Pope Leo XIV has made a major Vatican appointment that is bringing renewed attention to one of the Catholic Church’s most controversial moments involving former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
On Saturday, the pope selected San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone to serve on the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura—the highest judicial authority in the Catholic Church after the pope himself.
For many American Catholics, Cordileone is best known for his 2022 decision to deny Pelosi Holy Communion because of her public support for abortion rights, a move that sparked national debate inside and outside the Church.
Pope Leo Elevates Prominent American Archbishop
The Vatican announced that Cordileone will join six other clergy members on the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, which oversees the Church’s highest legal and administrative matters.
Although the appointment is one of the Church’s most prestigious positions, Cordileone will remain Archbishop of San Francisco while serving a five-year term on the Vatican court.
The tribunal is composed of bishops, priests, and cardinals personally appointed by the pope to help oversee the proper administration of justice throughout the Catholic Church.
Cordileone’s Pelosi Decision Drew Worldwide Attention
Cordileone became an international figure in 2022 after announcing that Pelosi could not receive Holy Communion within the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
The archbishop explained that Catholic public officials who knowingly support abortion place themselves in direct conflict with longstanding Church teaching.
In his letter announcing the decision, Cordileone stated that Church law provides that Catholics who publicly persist in grave moral error “are not to be admitted to Holy Communion.”
The decision generated intense debate among Catholics, lawmakers, and religious leaders across the country, with supporters praising the archbishop for defending Church doctrine while critics argued the move politicized the Eucharist.
Archbishop Responds To Vatican Appointment
Following the announcement, Cordileone thanked Pope Leo XIV for the opportunity to serve.
He said he accepted the appointment with humility and viewed the new responsibility as another way to serve Christ, the Church, and the faithful.
The archbishop also emphasized that the Vatican’s highest court exists not simply to interpret Church law but to protect the rights of Catholics, strengthen unity within the Church, and support its spiritual mission.
Staying In San Francisco
Cordileone made clear that his new Vatican role does not mean he is leaving California.
He will continue leading the Archdiocese of San Francisco while carrying out his responsibilities for the Holy See.
The appointment also comes during a significant year for the archdiocese as it commemorates the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, its patron saint.
Reflecting on the occasion, Cordileone said true greatness in the Church is found through faithful service to Christ rather than positions or titles.
A Significant Appointment Under Pope Leo XIV
Cordileone’s selection places one of America’s most recognizable Catholic leaders in one of the Vatican’s most influential judicial roles.
Because of his highly publicized decision involving Nancy Pelosi and Holy Communion, the appointment is likely to receive continued attention from Catholics, political observers, and religious leaders alike as Pope Leo XIV shapes the leadership of the global Church.
