Ever since late Bishop Cirilo Flores passed away on September 6th, 2014, after a brief fight with cancer, San Diego has been in need of a new Bishop. Fortunately for us, on March 3rd, 2015 Pope Francis along with the Vatican council, appointed Bishop Robert Walter McElroy to act as the new and sixth bishop of the Diocese of San Diego.

Bishop McElroy was born in San Francisco on February 5th, 1954. He is a very well-educated man. He received his Bachelor’s degree with history from Harvard University, Master’s degree in history and doctorate in political science from Stanford University, and another Doctorate in moral theology from Rome’s Gregorian University. Bishop McElroy also wrote two books: The Search for an American Public Theology: The Contribution of John Courtney Murray and Morality and American Foreign Policy.

Bishop McElroy largely advocates for Catholic Charities, one of the biggest nonprofit organizations in the United States. One of the new Pope’s missions for the Catholic Church is to incorporate and focus more on social justice issues and Bishop McElroy definitely “embraces a more ‘liberation theology’ with a preferential option for the poor… much like the Pope,” said Mr. Keith Warrick, CCHS religion teacher. Our new San Diego Bishop “endorses a more pastoral approach. He is open and welcoming,” he said. He will focus on issues with the poor and immigration issues, too.

Although he was appointed as the new bishop of the Diocese of San Diego, he has yet to be installed. The installation ceremony will take place on April 15th, at St. Therese of Carmel and bishops for other dioceses will come to welcome him into our new community. Cathedral will have an early dismissal on that Wednesday, in order to provide the Diocese extra parking.