Pope Francis recently appointed Cardinal Robert McElroy as the new archbishop of Washington, D.C. This decision marks a significant move as it aligns with the Pope’s progressive vision for the Catholic Church in America, especially at the onset of the second Trump Administration.
Cardinal McElroy, who is 70 years old, takes over from Cardinal Wilton Gregory, who has reached the retirement age for bishops. The Vatican announcement pointed to McElroy’s previous roles, highlighting his appointment as bishop of San Diego in 2015 and his elevation to cardinal in 2022.
Known for his progressive views, McElroy has openly criticized the exclusion of Catholic politicians who support abortion rights from receiving Communion, a stance that echoes the Pope’s call for bishops to act as shepherds rather than political enforcers. He has raised questions regarding the U.S. bishops’ conference, which has shown a conservative tilt, particularly around the issue of abortion. McElroy has urged that other pressing matters, such as racism, poverty, immigration, and climate change, should receive equal attention within the Church.
Moreover, Cardinal McElroy has shown support for LGBTQ+ youth and condemned the bullying they often face, which aligns him closely with Pope Francis’s priorities.
This appointment comes at a politically charged time, as Donald Trump prepares to take office on January 20 and has nominated Brian Burch, a known critic of Pope Francis’s policies, as the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican.
Pope Francis’s decision to appoint McElroy also precedes a meeting with President Joe Biden, who is visiting Italy. Biden has previously indicated that the Pope encouraged him to continue receiving Communion despite his stance on abortion, which has sparked much debate within the Church.
The Archdiocese of Washington serves a large community, including parts of Maryland and the District of Columbia, with a Catholic population of about 671,187 out of over three million residents.
