San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy speaks on the importance of individual cultures in various communities in the two-county diocese. Photo by Chris Stone
Bishop Robert McElroy of the San Diego Roman Catholic Diocese was elevated to cardinal Sunday — and at 68 would be eligible to be elected pope someday.
Pope Francis named McElroy and 16 others the honor of the red hat at the end of his weekly prayer from a window in the Apostolic Palace overlooking the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square.
McElroy will stay in San Diego — as its first cardinal.
“He has been among the most vocal champions of Pope Francis’ pastoral agenda among the U.S. hierarchy, frequently echoing the pope’s prioritization of environmental concerns, migration and a more welcoming approach to LGBTQ persons,” said the National Catholic Register.
That paper said the McElroy news means that Francis has once again chosen to pass over the more conservative leaning Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez, president of the U.S. Conference of Bishops.
Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago told the Register he was “both happy and yet not really surprised” about McElroy.
“He is one of the most gifted bishops in the United States, and I think that his nomination today is a sign of the esteem that he has in the life of the church, which is held by the Holy Father,” Cupich said.
In 2019, Francis named McElroy one of two Americans to attend the Vatican’s Synod on the Amazon region, “which opened up discussions on celibacy requirements for the priesthood and the possibility of restoring the ministry of women to the diaconate,” the Register noted.
“I’m in favor of it,” McElroy told NCR at the time on the question of women deacons. “My view on it is [that] women should be invited into every ministry or activity we have that’s not doctrinally precluded.”
This is a breaking story. Check back for developments.