CV NEWS FEED // Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, the first cardinal from the Diocese of San Diego, delivered a farewell address Feb. 27, as he prepares to transition to his new role as the archbishop of Washington, D.C. in March.
During his farewell speech, Cardinal McElroy reflected on his eight years as bishop of San Diego, thanking the community for their support and expressing deep gratitude for the relationships forged during his tenure.
“It has been a great grace for me being here,” McElroy said, according to Crux. “Part of my heart will always be here in San Diego.”
Cardinal McElroy has served as the bishop of the Diocese of San Diego since 2015. He was elevated to cardinal in 2022.
Addressing Pope Francis’ recent health concerns, Cardinal McElroy recognized the Pope’s significant influence on the Church and noted that many people hope he will be able to continue in his role for much longer.
“I know that so many people have looked upon this pope as a man who has brought a sense of real pastoral commitment and depth to the life of the Church, and putting the outreach of the Church to everyone, inviting everyone into the life of the Church, especially those who are poor and vulnerable and marginalized and who are suffering in any form,” the Cardinal said.
He further remarked on the Pope’s desire to continue his leadership role, despite his declining health.
“He wants to lead in that vision and thinks God is asking him to take a role in leading in that and my guess is that’s partly why he’s fighting through this illness because he still has things to do, and he’s hoping God gives him the opportunity to do that,” he said.
In his farewell, the Cardinal also expressed concern about the state of the country, saying it’s “being turned upside down.” He also criticized several of the immigration policies of the Trump administration, calling them “dehumanizing” and a “moral falsity,” with a particular focus on the notion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducting raids at churches or schools.
“When those places become targets of ICE raids, it makes everyone uneasy. It strikes fear in everybody’s heart, all those who are undocumented,” Cardinal McElroy said. “It acts as a deterrent to people going to church and freely worshiping or going to school.”
The Cardinal has previously voiced concerns over the Trump administration’s policies, stating that “[wide], indiscriminate, massive deportation across the country would be something that would be incompatible with Catholic doctrine,” CatholicVote reported.
Cardinal McElroy emphasized his pastoral role in Washington but also revealed that he had recently spoken with former President Joe Biden in a “lengthy” conversation. He declined to reveal specifics of their discussion other than Biden’s inquiry about the health of Pope Francis. The Cardinal said he has no current plans to meet with President Donald Trump.
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