After Pope Francis on Jan. 6, 2025 named San Diego Cardinal Robert McElroy as the new archbishop of Washington, succeeding Cardinal Wilton Gregory in that role, several area Catholic institutions issued statements welcoming him and thanking Cardinal Gregory, as did the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, which is a suffragan diocese of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. This article has been updated to include a statement from Msgr. Walter Rossi, the rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Statement from Peter Kilpatrick, President of The Catholic University of America
“On behalf of The Catholic University of America, I would like to welcome His Eminence Cardinal Robert McElroy as the newly appointed Archbishop of Washington and, in that role, as Chancellor of The Catholic University of America.
“Cardinal McElroy has served as a Fellow and member of the University’s Board of Trustees since 2022. He also serves on the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and has additional national and Holy See responsibilities, including as a member of the Dicastery of Laity, Family and Life, and Dicastery of Promoting Integral Human Development.
“He is known for a pastoral approach that focuses on synodality and solidarity. He recently spoke of solidarity as not only a sense of common purpose and mission, reminding us we are all beneficiaries of our society and have an obligation to each other. I look forward to engaging with him on these and other issues as we continue together to build up Catholic University.
“He is a scholar, having earned multiple graduate degrees. After completing an undergraduate degree in American history at Harvard, he completed a master’s in the same subject at Stanford University, then began his studies for the priesthood, earning an M.Div. and S.T.L. He later received his doctorate in political science at Stanford and a doctorate in moral theology (S.T.D.) from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
“On behalf of our University community, I also extend our gratitude in a special way to His Eminence Cardinal Wilton Gregory, who has been a pastoral and thoughtful shepherd to the Church in Washington and a generous and insightful friend to our campus community. Your compassionate leadership and steadfast commitment to the mission of the Church have been an inspiration to many, and your legacy will continue to resonate for years to come.
“May God bless Cardinal Gregory in this new chapter of his life, and may He guide Cardinal McElroy as he begins his new mission.”
Statement from Monsignor Walter Rossi, Rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
“On Monday, January 6, 2025, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, appointed Cardinal Robert McElroy of San Diego as the eighth Archbishop of Washington. With this appointment, Cardinal McElroy becomes the chair of the National Shrine Board of Trustees.
“Cardinal McElroy has served as a member of the Shrine Board since 2022 and faithfully attends our annual meeting. We look forward to hosting his Installation Mass as Archbishop of Washington in Mary’s Shrine on March 11, 2025.
“I am grateful for the six years that Cardinal Wilton Gregory served as chair of the Shrine Board, as well as for the 13 years he served as chair of the Liturgy and Music Committee prior to his appointment as Archbishop of Washington. Cardinal Gregory will remain a member of the Shrine Board of Trustees, as all United States cardinals serve as ex officio members of the Shrine Board.
“During this time of transition, please keep Cardinal McElroy, Cardinal Gregory and the faithful of both the Archdiocese of Washington and Diocese of San Diego in your prayers.”
Statement from Georgetown University
“We are honored to welcome Cardinal Robert McElroy as the next leader of the Archdiocese of Washington,” said Interim President Robert M. Groves. “Through his leadership, pastoral care and scholarship, Cardinal McElroy has lived out the principles of Catholic social thought and advocated for them in the national arena. We are grateful for his leadership and look forward to working with him in the coming years.”
Statement from the Maryland Catholic Conference
The following is from Jenny Kraska, executive director of the Maryland Catholic Conference:
“We congratulate Cardinal Robert McElroy on his appointment as Archbishop of Washington and welcome him as he joins the Maryland Catholic Conference Board of Governors.
“We also offer our gratitude to Cardinal Wilton Gregory for his wise counsel and pastoral concern as the shepherd of the archdiocese. Our prayers are with him for a joyful retirement.”
The Maryland Catholic Conference is the public policy entity for the Catholic Church in Maryland, home to one million Catholics living in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Archdiocese of Washington and on Maryland’s eastern shore in the Diocese of Wilmington.
From the Facebook page of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington
“We congratulate Cardinal Robert McElroy, named today as the next archbishop of Washington, D.C. We look forward to welcoming him to Catholic Charities to hear about the important work being done by the agency. As we welcome Archbishop-Elect McElroy, we also extend our deepest appreciation to Cardinal Wilton Gregory, who has been an inspiring advocate for Catholic Charities since his appointment as the seventh archbishop of Washington in 2019.”
From the Facebook page of the Diocese of St Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands
“Let us join the Church in the Archdiocese of Washington to thank God for the ministry of His Eminence Wilton Cardinal Gregory, and pray for abundant blessings on the life and ministry of the new Archbishop, His Eminence Robert Cardinal McElroy.”
