(The Hill) - Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, a critic of President-elect Trump and bishop for the Catholic Diocese of San Diego, was named the new archbishop of Washington on Monday. Pope Francis named McElroy to replace Cardinal Wilton Gregory in Washington, D.C., Catholic Standard reported. McElroy, a San Francisco native, is known as a progressive in the Catholic Church and his diocese of San Diego includes California’s border with Mexico. Pope Francis holds a news conference aboard the papal plane on his flight back after his 12-day journey across Southeast Asia and Oceania, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (Guglielmo Mangiapane/Pool Photo via AP) The pope’s move to put McElroy, a vocal supporter of migrants, at the top post in Washington comes just weeks before Trump is sworn in for a second term Jan. 20. Meanwhile, President Biden is set to travel to Rome later this week to meet with the pope. McElroy opposed Trump’s immigration agenda during his first four years in the White House, saying at the time that Catholics “simply can’t stand by and watch” while immigrants get deported, according to Reuters. McElroy joined other California bishops last month to issue a statement supporting migrants after Trump was elected on a platform focused on cracking down on immigration. He has also been welcoming towards LGBTQ Catholics and supportive of women as deacons in the church. Gregory, who has a close relationship with Biden while serving as archbishop, was required by Church law to submit his resignation after he turned 75 in 2022. Gregory supported Biden, the second Catholic president in U.S. history, while conservative Catholic bishops mulled whether they should prevent him from receiving communion over his pro-reproductive rights stance. McElroy will be leaving the Catholic Diocese of San Diego during a pivotal time for the local branch of the church. Facing more than 450 damage claims from victims of past sexual abuse, the church moved to file bankruptcy — a process that is still ongoing. Until they find a replacement for McElroy, an administrator will oversee the San Diego Diocese. FOX 5/KUSI's Danielle Dawson contributed to this report.