President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE has nominated Callista Gingrich, the wife of former Speaker Newt Gingrich Newton (Newt) Leroy GingrichMORE (R-Ga.), as ambassador to the Holy See, the White House announced Friday.

The nomination comes just five days before Trump is set to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican during his first trip abroad as president.

The nomination follows months of speculation and vetting that at one point, according to a New York Times report, nearly drove Gingrich to withdraw herself from consideration.

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Gingrich is a member of the choir at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., and is said to have been a key factor in her husband's conversion to Catholicism.

Her husband was a vocal supporter of Trump during his presidential campaign and has continued to defend him since he took office in January.