Pope Francis Appoints Left-Wing Cardinal to Lead D.C. Archdiocese

On Monday, Pope Francis appointed a cardinal with known left-wing views to be the new head of the archdiocese of Washington D.C., with less than two weeks left before President-elect Donald Trump is to be sworn back into office.

According to the Daily Caller, Cardinal Robert McElroy of San Diego has been vocal about his criticisms of President Trump in the past, particularly with regards to the immigration issue. McElroy has demanded that the United States let in more illegal aliens, after President-elect Trump campaigned on deporting illegals and securing the southern border.

“Our nation’s immigration system is broken,” said McElroy in December. “‘The Lord hears the cry of the poor’ (Psalm 34:7), and we, the Catholic bishops of California, as shepherds of the flock of Christ, have seen and heard the growing distress among you, our migrant brothers and sisters.”

“We realize that the calls for mass deportations and raids on undocumented individuals and migrant families have created genuine fear for so many we shepherd in our dioceses,” McElroy continued.

He had also advocated for “radical” reforms when it comes to the Church’s acceptance of women and LGBTQ people serving in certain Church roles.

McElroy was appointed following the resignation of Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the current head of the D.C. archdiocese, who is 77 years old. All bishops are required to resign once they turn 75, although some, such as Gregory, may remain in the position until their successor is chosen.

Francis’ appointment of McElroy follows President-elect Trump’s decision to nominate Brian Burch as his next ambassador to the Vatican. Burch, the leader of CatholicVote, is known for his conservative views on such matters as abortion and religious freedom.