Pope Francis’ decision to appoint a liberal cardinal to the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., was reportedly made in response to President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be ambassador to the Vatican.
The Pope on Monday announced the appointment of Cardinal Robert McElroy of San Diego. The cardinal has been an outspoken critic of President Trump’s immigration policies and has advocated for the “radical inclusion” of women and LGBT people in the church. The decision was made to counter President Trump’s selection of Brian Birch, president of the advocacy group Catholic Vote and a supporter of the president-elect’s immigration and pro-life policies, The Pillar. It seems that reported.
Several members of the Church’s leadership have reportedly agreed to appoint Jefferson City Bishop Sean McKnight to replace Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory, who will reach retirement age and retire in 2022, but Burch Upon hearing of the appointment, the Pope reversed his decision. A source told The Pillar. McElroy had previously been excluded from consideration for the post over concerns that he would be seen as a “provocative” choice because of his political rivalry with Trump.
“Deemed resolved. [in favor of McKnight]he was ready to make a call and suddenly he couldn’t make a call,” an anonymous source told the show.
The Vatican apparently found President Trump’s decision “aggressive” and “undiplomatic” and decided to respond in kind, Pillar reported.
According to Pillar, McElroy’s appointment to the Archdiocese of Washington was entirely political. https://t.co/sRWagctfjo pic.twitter.com/ec8Tt7qgTU
— Elias Atienza (@AtienzaElias) January 7, 2025
Cardinal McElroy has advocated for a flexible approach to immigration in the United States, and in December responded to President Trump’s comments by saying, “Calls for mass deportations and raids on illegal aliens and immigrant families are something we cannot do.” “It is causing real fear in many people in charge of the diocese.” Plan to enact mass deportation of illegal immigrants.
The cardinal also rejected calls to deny Communion to politicians who publicly promote abortion, including President Joe Biden and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. (Related: Catholic Joe Biden praises abortion, awards same-sex marriage activist with Presidential Medal)
Birch has publicly supported Trump leading up to the election, telling the Daily Caller News Foundation in September that Trump was the obvious choice for Catholics as a presidential candidate, adding that he is a former Democratic presidential candidate. He criticized Kamala Harris’ support for abortion and her “hostility” towards abortion. Christian. Birch also denied that Trump’s tough stance on immigration was equivalent to Harris’ support for killing unborn children, as the pope had previously suggested.
“I pray that President Trump’s administration, and all of the state and local legislators and governors across the country, will work together to truly improve this country,” Cardinal McElroy said in a statement Monday, according to The Pillar. “There is,” he said. .
CatholicVote did not immediately respond to DCNF’s request for comment.
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