Pope Francis has appointed a new Archbishop of Washington, D.C., a position that requires approval from the Vatican and is typically filled by a high-ranking American bishop. The newly appointed Archbishop, Wilton Gregory, is a longtime critic of President Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement.
Gregory, 71, has been the Archbishop of Atlanta since 2005 and has been a vocal advocate for social justice and immigration reform. He has also been a vocal critic of Trump’s policies, including his stance on immigration and his response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2019, Gregory sparked controversy when he said that Trump’s visit to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. was “highly inappropriate” and that he should not have been allowed to pray at the shrine. Trump had been invited to the shrine by the shrine’s rector, but Gregory opposed the visit, saying that it would be a “distracting and divisive” event.
Gregory’s appointment as Archbishop of Washington, D.C. is seen as a significant development in the Catholic Church’s efforts to respond to the challenges of the Trump era. As Archbishop, Gregory will oversee the Archdiocese of Washington, which includes more than 620,000 Catholics in the nation’s capital and surrounding areas.
Gregory’s appointment is also seen as a rebuke to Trump, who has been a frequent critic of the Catholic Church and has often clashed with Catholic leaders on issues such as immigration and healthcare. Trump has also been known to target Catholic leaders who have criticized him, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who is a Catholic.
Gregory’s appointment is seen as a major victory for liberal Catholics and social justice advocates, who have long sought to push back against Trump’s policies and ideology. Gregory’s critics, on the other hand, see his appointment as a sign that the Catholic Church is out of touch with American values and is more interested in advancing a liberal agenda than in serving the needs of all Americans.
The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Vatican, which is expected to occur in the coming weeks.