Cardinal Robert W. McElroy to succeed Cardinal Gregory as Archbishop of Washington after serving in San Diego.

In his farewell news conference, Cardinal McElroy said the church's role in the nation's capital is not to solve political problems or steer policy but to give witness to those affected by national actions.

The church's role in the nation's capital is not to steer policy but to give witness to those affected by national initiatives, Cardinal Robert McElroy said Feb. 27 in his final news conference as San Diego archbishop.

Cardinal Robert McElroy spoke one-on-one with ABC 10News reporter Marie Coronel before he started his assignment as the archbishop of Washington, D.C.

McElroy, a sharp critic of the previous and current Trump administrations and their policies of mass deportations, which he has called "incompatible with Catholic doctrine," added that Pope Frances shares his profound interest in the U.

Cardinal Robert McElroy, who led the Catholic Diocese of San Diego for a decade, delivered farewell remarks Thursday on a range of topics – Pope Francis’ health, the church’s role in this political moment and more – before departing for his new role as archbishop of Washington.