Greg Burke, an American former journalist who advises the Holy See on communications, has been named deputy director of the Holy See Press Office.

burkeVatican media noted the appointment by Pope Francis puts Burke in position to head the press office currently under the direction of Rev. Federico Lombardi, spokesman for Francis and his predecesor, Pope Benedict XVI. Burke would be the first American to serve as primary spokesman for a pope.

Burke takes the deputy slot vacated by Rev. Ciro Benedettini.

Cruxnow.com, which covers the Vatican, called Burke and Rev. Paul Tighe, who was promoted and now in line to become a bishop, as the "most accessible, and effective, communications personnel in the Vatican, making them natural points of contact not only for media outlets, but also for a wide range of other individuals and organizations seeking to engage the institution."

Burke was stationed in Rome for 10 years for Time magazine.

The Vatican last year formed a prominent committee to make recommendations on overhauling its global communications.