Cardinal McElroy’s Diagnosis
Cardinal Robert McElroy is set to have surgery next week to address a nonaggressive cancer affecting his fat cells, as announced by the Archdiocese of Washington.
The 71-year-old cardinal, who oversees more than 667,000 Catholics in the District of Columbia and nearby Maryland, revealed this week that he has been diagnosed with well-differentiated liposarcoma. This type of cancer typically originates in the arms, legs, or abdomen.
The archdiocese stated on Wednesday that this cancer is rarely fatal and generally does not spread. They emphasized that it is unlikely to pose a serious threat to Cardinal McElroy’s life.
“For these reasons, the Cardinal’s doctors are in consensus that his prognosis is very good,” the statement read.
The scheduled surgery will prevent Cardinal McElroy from attending an upcoming fall meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore from November 10-13.
During a gathering with local priests on Tuesday, Cardinal McElroy expressed his peace regarding this challenge. “I hope and believe that in God’s grace I will be Archbishop of Washington for many years to come,” he said. He also requested prayers and support during this time and plans to return to full duties two weeks post-surgery.
Cardinal McElroy became the eighth archbishop of Washington on March 11 after being appointed by Pope Francis. He succeeded Cardinal Wilton Gregory, who retired after becoming archbishop in 2019.
Prior to this role, he served as bishop of San Diego starting in 2015 and implemented significant budget cuts shortly after taking charge of the D.C. archdiocese’s parishes and missions.
A long-time advocate for progressive changes within the Catholic Church, Cardinal McElroy has spoken out against policies from the Trump administration regarding immigration issues. In a homily delivered on September 28 at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, he condemned what he described as a governmental assault causing fear and emotional suffering among vulnerable communities.
The archdiocese did not provide additional details about Cardinal McElroy’s upcoming surgery. Liposarcoma affects approximately 1 in 100,000 individuals annually in the U.S., predominantly men aged between 50 and 65. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, weakness, constipation, and bloody stool.
