Among the 21 cardinals announced by Pope Francis is Bishop Robert McElroy. Only the fifth American cardinal picked by Francis, he has been Bishop of San Diego since 2015. McElroy represents the more progressive branch of the US Church and has clashed with conservative bishops in recent months. A close ideological ally of the Pope, his appointment represents a bold step towards unity by the Vatican.
In a statement released by the diocese, McElroy said he was “stunned and deeply surprised” by his appointment. “My prayer is that in this ministry I might be of additional service to the God who has graced me on so many levels in my life. And I pray also that I can assist the Holy Father in his pastoral renewal of the Church.”
McElroy has been in the headlines recently over his op-ed published recently in America, in which he criticised the Eucharist “being weaponised for political ends”, referring to the movement among American bishops to deny communion to politicians, including President Joe Biden – only the second Catholic president in American history – who support abortion rights. “The proposal to exclude pro-choice Catholic political leaders from the Eucharist is the wrong step,” he wrote last month. “It will bring tremendously destructive consequences – not because of what it says about abortion, but because of what it says about the Eucharist.”
Notably, the Pope passed over the higher-ranking Bishop Salvatore Cordileone, the archbishop of San Francisco. Cordileone said recently that he would deny communion to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, one of the highest ranking Democratic politicians in Washington, over her support for abortion. A native of San Francisco, McElroy had served as an auxiliary bishop in San Francisco, under Cordileone, from 2010-2015.
Cordileone offered a brief statement congratulating McElroy. The statement did not discuss the pair’s differences. Archbishop José Gomez, who is the archbishop of Los Angeles and the president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, also issued a statement. “By naming Bishop Robert McElroy as a cardinal, Pope Francis has shown his pastoral care for the Church in the United States,” he wrote, noting the two have worked closely on a number of issues.
“His strong faith and the pastoral concern for the faithful he has shown in his diocese will serve the global Church well,” Gomez added. Along with Cordileone, Gomez has also been among the leaders of the movement to deny communion to Biden and others.
McElroy has been a close ally of the Pope in various other issues, including echoing his support for environmental concerns and a more welcoming approach to the LGBT community. In a speech in 2020, he noted that “the death toll from abortion is more immediate, but the long-term death toll from unchecked climate change is larger and threatens the very future of humanity.”
He was also one of the few bishops who signed a statement supporting LGBT youth. “The Catholic Church values human life and we take this opportunity to say to our LGBT friends, especially young people, that we stand with you and oppose any form of violence, bullying, or harassment directed at you,” part of the statement read.
The Pope has, in the past, faced opposition from conservative Catholics across America who have criticized his positions on numerous issues, including the environment and LGBT issues. His selection of McElroy, in lieu of more conservative, higher-ranked choices such as Cordieleone and Gomez, shows that he is not willing to compromise on his values. It is a bold, but necessary, step towards increasing harmony and reducing divisions in the Church, not only in America, but across the globe.