Cardinal McElroy snubs Trump, but chats with Biden

John Lavenburg/Crux• February 28, 2025

Moments after stating that he has no current plans to meet with President Donald Trump, emphasising what he stressed is the intrinsically pastoral, not political, role of the Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Robert McElroy revealed that he recently held a “lengthy” call with former President Joe Biden.

“I’m going to Washington as the Archbishop of Washington, which is a pastoral role,” McElroy said. “That is, my role is the leadership of the Catholic community of Washington and all that brings with it,” he added, noting that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the Church’s primary government liaison.

Yet moments later, McElroy said that he “had a lengthy call with President Biden the other day.” He did not reveal what was discussed on the call, other than saying that Biden asked about Pope Francis’s health and said he has been praying for the pontiff.

Some may see the contrast between spurning Trump while chatting casually with Biden as consistent with McElroy’s reputation as a close ally of Pope Francis and one of the nation’s more progressive prelates.

McElroy made the comments at a 27 February news conference, scheduled as his final one as bishop of the Diocese of San Diego before he departs for Washington in a few weeks. He expressed concern about the nation “being turned upside down”, but by and large focused on Pope Francis and his time in San Diego, while looking ahead to his new role in the capital.

On Pope Francis’s health, McElroy acknowledged that the situation looks better and that the pontiff may be able to recover. He said that, given Pope Francis’s attentiveness to situations of turmoil and hardship, it is fitting that so many people around the world are raising their voices in prayer for his health and recovery.

“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, putting the outreach of the Church to everyone—inviting everyone into the life of the Church, especially those who are poor, vulnerable, marginalised, and suffering in any form,” McElroy said. “[So, many hope] that this Pope may continue to be the leader of the Church for some time to come.”

McElroy called Pope Francis a “very strong-willed man” with a vision for the Church.

“He wants to lead in that vision and thinks God is asking him to take a role in leading in that. 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,” McElroy said.

Later in the news conference, McElroy highlighted that the Church’s role in society is not to solve political or policy problems, but rather to comment on policies and the direction of society from a moral perspective. In that sense, he noted that “we’re in a moment of great turmoil”, though he did not specify what he meant by the phrase.

“We are at a turning point in the history of our country, and so the Church’s desire is to make sure that in that discussion and in that formation of policy and direction, the witness of the Gospel is present there,” McElroy explained.

He also said that the Trump administration’s immigration actions were “dehumanising” and a “moral falsity”.

On the move to Washington, McElroy said that his first priority will be meeting the clergy and laity, while mentioning “the added pastoral challenge” of ministering to the thousands of federal workers who are losing their jobs—a reference to the actions of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency.

McElroy described his decade in San Diego as “tremendously joyous”, highlighting the vibrant community.

“It has been a great grace for me being here, and part of my heart will always be here in San Diego when I’m in Washington, or wherever I am,” McElroy said.

Photo: Cardinal, Monsignor Robert Walter McElroy poses as he attends a courtesy visit of relatives following a consistory for the creation of 20 new cardinals by the Pope, on August 27, 2022

(Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)