Mon Jan 06 12:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Pope Francis Appoints Pro-Migrant Cardinal as Archbishop of Washington D.C. in Bold Move
**Vatican City** – Pope Francis has appointed Cardinal Robert McElroy, a vocal advocate for migrants and outspoken critic of the Trump administration, as the new Archbishop of Washington, D.C. The appointment, announced on the anniversary of the January 6th Capitol attack and weeks before Donald Trump’s anticipated presidential campaign launch, is seen by some as a direct statement from the Pope.
Cardinal McElroy, 70, succeeds Cardinal Wilton Gregory and will assume responsibility for the Archdiocese of Washington. Known for his alignment with Pope Francis’ priorities on refugee rights, environmental protection, and inclusivity towards LGBTQ+ Catholics, McElroy has openly criticized Trump’s anti-immigrant policies. In a past speech, he urged Catholics to actively oppose such policies, calling for them to be “disruptors” of what he termed an unjust agenda.
The appointment comes as Pope Francis prepares for a farewell meeting with President Joe Biden and follows Trump’s nomination of a known critic of the Pope as his Vatican ambassador. Church historian Massimo Faggioli called the selection a “bold move,” highlighting the timing of the announcement as further emphasizing its significance.
In a separate announcement, the Pope appointed Sister Simona Brambilla as the first female prefect of a Vatican department. Sister Brambilla, who holds a doctorate in psychology, will lead the office responsible for nuns, monks, and friars. This appointment continues Pope Francis’ efforts to increase the number of women in leadership positions within the Vatican, though calls for greater female representation in the Church remain. The Vatican reports a rise in the percentage of women employed by the Holy See from 19.2% in 2013 to 23.4% in 2023.
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