In an April 13 interview with CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, Washington Cardinal Robert W. McElroy reacted to President Trump’s harsh criticism of Pope Leo XIV, calling it “distressing.”
“I find the president’s attack very distressing, particularly because we’re in an age of polarization, of general degradation in our public dialogue and discourse, and on an issue this important, that of the war, it’s important that the substance of the issues involved be discussed with respect and politeness and care,” Cardinal McElroy said.
The cardinal noted that Pope Leo in urging a peaceful resolution to the United States’ war with Iran “was proclaiming the Gospel and Catholic teaching, which concludes that this war is immoral, morally illegitimate.”
Washington’s archbishop said that discourse about the war should deal with “how do we ascertain what is the moral course forward and the right path for our country?”
In a follow-up question, Anderson Cooper noted that the president seemed to be going after the pope as if he were a political figure, and Cardinal McElroy said, “I think the president fundamentally misunderstands the pope’s role, which is precisely not to be a politician, but simply to speak to the moral dimensions of public policy issues, particularly the war at this time, what is the moral reality behind what we are doing, and how can we focus on that, and really understand how we should move forward at this moment.”
The CNN anchor pointed to another controversy involving President Trump, who posted an AI-generated image of himself on his social media wearing robes like Jesus is often depicted wearing and reaching out with glowing hands to heal a sick man, surrounded by a woman praying and patriotic figures admiring him, an image that some criticized as appearing to be blasphemous. The image was taken down from the president’s social media account, but Trump later said he thought the image was depicting him as a doctor.
“I haven’t talked to a single person who interprets that the way the president does, and it’s particularly disturbing, because for us, the person of Jesus Christ is sacred,” Cardinal McElroy said. “For the president to take on this aura and identity in this piece is really crossing a line which for most Christians is very alienating.”
During the interview, the cardinal was also asked about his opposition to the Trump administration’s policy of mass deportation of undocumented immigrants.
“The Church’s position on immigration, undocumented immigration is that the nation has a right to control its borders and has the right to deport those who have been convicted of serious criminal offenses, but what we’re witnessing now is not that,” Cardinal McElroy said. “What we’re witnessing is the mass, indiscriminate deportation of men and women and children and families who have often been here for a long time and bringing all the values that (we) need to contribute to our culture and society at the present moment.”
The cardinal said that immigration policy has led to “tremendous suffering going on in the communities of which I am the archbishop here in Washington. Our parishes are suffering deeply. We have one parish where 30 people have been deported. And so the Church has spoken up on this question.”
Cardinal McElroy then said, “This indiscriminate siege and assault upon the undocumented immigrants of our country really is cruel and inhumane, and against the best interests of our country, long-term and short-term.”
Concluding the interview, Anderson Cooper asked the cardinal what he would say to people who feel a sense of despair about the direction that the country seems to be going in.
Cardinal McElroy said the country has gone through difficult periods before, including the Civil War and the turbulent last years of the 1960s.
“We will come out of this, I’m confident, but it’s going to be a very difficult pathway there,” Cardinal McElroy said. “What we have do is focus on that which our country is founded for, freedom and justice, compassion and welcoming people into our country, and establishing equality for all. Those are our aspirations as a country, and if we keep focused on those, then we will be doing what our obligation is, and I believe that we will come out of this and have a new resurgence in our understanding of who we are called to be as Americans.”
Links to related articles:
Pope Leo responds to Trump: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’
https://www.cathstan.org/us-world/pope-leo-responds-to-trump-blessed-are-the-peacemakers
Trump rebuffs Bishop Barron's plea, says he will not apologize for Pope Leo tirade
