Rachel Evans
On November 28, 2020, Wilton Daniel Gregory became the first African-American cardinal in the history of the Catholic Church. He was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis, who raised 12 new cardinals during a ceremony at the Vatican. Cardinal Gregory is the Archbishop of Washington D.C. and the Chancellor of Catholic University of America. He is also known for his advocacy for social justice and his attempts to reconcile the church with its past sexual abuse scandals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the first black Catholic cardinal | Wilton Daniel Gregory |
| Date of becoming a cardinal | 28 November 2020 |
| Appointed by | Pope Francis |
| Appointed alongside | 12 new cardinals |
| Appointed as | Cardinal-priest |
| Appointed at | Consistory |
| Appointed from | Archbishop of Washington D.C. |
| Appointed as Chancellor of | Catholic University of America |
| Known for | Advocacy for social justice |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Wilton Daniel Gregory: the first Black Catholic cardinal in the US
- James Augustine Healy: the first Black bishop in the US
- Harold Perry: the first Black clergyman to deliver the opening prayer in Congress
- The Venerable Augustus Tolton: the first publicly known Black Catholic priest in the US
- Robert Boxie III: a Black Catholic chaplain excited about Gregory's appointment
Wilton Daniel Gregory: the first Black Catholic cardinal in the US
Wilton Daniel Gregory, born on December 7, 1947, is the first Black Catholic cardinal in the US. He was 11 years old when he converted to Catholicism and decided to become a priest. On May 9, 1973, at the age of 25, Gregory was ordained as a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago. After his ordination, he was assigned as an associate pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Glenview, Illinois. In 1976, he was sent to Rome to pursue graduate studies at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute at the Pontifical Athenaeum of St. Anselm, where he completed his Doctor of Sacred Liturgy degree in 1980.
Upon his return to Illinois, Gregory was assigned to teach liturgy at Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary. He also served as a master of ceremonies under Cardinals John Cody and Joseph Bernardin. On October 31, 1983, Pope John Paul II appointed Gregory as an auxiliary bishop of Chicago and titular bishop of Oliva, making him the youngest bishop in the country at 35 years old. He received his episcopal consecration on December 13, 1983. On December 29, 1993, John Paul II appointed Gregory as the seventh bishop of Belleville, and he was installed on February 10, 1994.
In 1998, Gregory was elected as the vice president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and in 2001, he became the first African-American president of the USCCB. On October 25, 2020, Pope Francis announced that Gregory would be elevated to the rank of cardinal, making him the first African-American cardinal in history. On November 28, 2020, Gregory officially became a cardinal-priest, with the titular church of Immacolata Concezione di Maria a Grottarossain Rome.
As a cardinal, Gregory participated in the 2025 papal conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV. He has emphasized the importance of engaging and dialoguing with political administrations, including the Joe Biden administration following the 2020 US presidential election. Gregory has also taken a stance against guns in churches and has demonstrated a balanced approach to complex social issues, upholding Church teachings while showing compassion and inclusivity.
English Catholics: Population and Presence
You may want to see also
Explore related products
James Augustine Healy: the first Black bishop in the US
James Augustine Healy, born on April 6, 1830, was the first African American Roman Catholic bishop in the United States. He was born into slavery in Jones County, Georgia, to a white plantation owner, Michael Morris Healy, and a mixed-race enslaved woman, Mary Eliza. Despite being of mixed heritage, Healy was considered illegitimate and enslaved under Georgia law and was barred from attending school in the state. As a result, his parents sent him to Quaker schools in the North in the 1840s, where he faced racial prejudice. In 1844, he began his secondary education at Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts, graduating as valedictorian in 1849.
Healy decided to enter the priesthood and enrolled in the Sulpician Seminary in Paris, France. In 1854, he became the first African American to be ordained as a Roman Catholic priest at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Upon his return to the United States, Healy began his ministry as an assistant priest in the diocese of Boston, where he served for 21 years. During this time, he also served as chancellor of the diocese and secretary to the bishop. In 1866, he was made pastor of St. James Church in Boston.
In 1875, Pope Pius IX appointed Healy as the second bishop of the Diocese of Portland, Maine, making him the first Black Catholic bishop in the United States. At the time, the Diocese of Portland encompassed the states of Maine and New Hampshire, and had a Catholic population of 80,000. During his tenure, Healy worked tirelessly to support Civil War widows and orphans and established numerous churches, schools, convents, and welfare institutions. By the time of his death in 1900, the Catholic population in his diocese had doubled to about 100,000, with a significant increase in the number of priests and churches.
Despite his achievements, Healy's racial identity was a source of controversy. Due to his predominantly European ancestry, he passed for a white man and identified as such. He never publicly acknowledged his Black heritage and even declined invitations to engage with African American Catholic groups. However, in 2024, DNA evidence confirmed that Healy was indeed related to abolitionist Ellen Craft, who had escaped slavery in Georgia, further establishing his African American lineage.
Australian Catholic Super: How Does It Measure Up?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Harold Perry: the first Black clergyman to deliver the opening prayer in Congress
In 1964, Harold Robert Perry became the first Black clergyman to deliver the opening prayer in Congress. Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Perry was the oldest of six children and grew up in a strongly Catholic and French-speaking home. After being ordained as a priest in 1944, he served at churches in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi. He was the 26th Black man in the history of American Catholicism to attain priesthood. In 1963, Perry and other religious leaders were invited to the White House to discuss peaceful desegregation with President John F. Kennedy.
Perry was appointed rector of St. Augustine Seminary in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, his alma mater. His tenure as rector ended in 1964 when he became the provincial superior of the Southern province of the Divine Word Society in the United States. On September 29, 1965, Perry was appointed titular bishop of Mons in Mauretania and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans by Pope Paul VI. He was the second-ever African American to become a Catholic bishop, and the first in the 20th century. Upon his appointment, Archbishop Philip Hannan announced, "We welcome the first American-born Negro bishop."
As an auxiliary bishop, Perry served as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church and St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Church in New Orleans, vicar general of the archdiocese, and rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. He also served as national chaplain of the Knights of Peter Claver. Perry remained an auxiliary bishop until his death in 1991 at the age of 74 due to complications from Alzheimer's disease.
Harold Perry's life and career as a clergyman were groundbreaking. He broke barriers as the first Black clergyman to deliver the opening prayer in Congress and as the first African American consecrated as a Catholic bishop in the 20th century. His achievements symbolized the great changes that were taking place in the Catholic Church and in American society at the time. Perry's legacy continues to inspire and pave the way for future generations of Black Catholics.
The Human Condition: A Catholic Union
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Venerable Augustus Tolton: the first publicly known Black Catholic priest in the US
The Venerable Augustus Tolton (1854-1897) was the first publicly known Black Catholic priest in the United States. Born into slavery in Missouri, he and his family escaped to Illinois in 1862 or 1863, where he was raised in the Roman Catholic Church. Tolton experienced racial harmony and total acceptance within the church, and with the support of several priests and nuns, he was able to pursue his education despite facing racist opposition.
After completing his primary education, Tolton gained admission into St. Francis Solanus College (now Quincy University), which he attended from 1878 to 1880. He then travelled to Rome to study at the Pontifical Urban University, as he had been rejected by every North American major seminary to which he had applied. In 1886, after six years of study, he was ordained as a priest at the age of 31.
Tolton had expected to serve in an African parish, but he was instead reassigned to the United States as a missionary to the Black community. He held his first public Mass at St. Boniface Church in Quincy, Illinois, and later became the pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church and School. During his ministry, he served both Black and White communities, facing opposition and resentment for his novel approach. Despite the challenges he faced as a Black priest in a predominantly White institution, Tolton remained devoted to the Catholic Church and was known for his gentle spirit and gratitude.
Tolton died unexpectedly in 1897 at the age of 43, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire. In 2010, his cause for beatification was announced, and he was declared Venerable by Pope Francis in 2019. As of 2020, Wilton Gregory, the first African-American cardinal in history, was elevated to the College of Cardinals.
Catholic Funeral Vigil: How Long Do They Last?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Robert Boxie III: a Black Catholic chaplain excited about Gregory's appointment
Father Robert Boxie III is a Black Catholic chaplain at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He is also a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington and resides at the Immaculate Conception Parish. In an interview with the Catholic Standard's Black Catholic Voices series, Father Boxie III expressed his excitement about the appointment of Wilton Gregory as one of 13 new cardinals from across the globe. Cardinal Gregory became the first African American cardinal in history.
Father Boxie III's work at Howard University involves engaging with young people and fostering their enthusiasm, activism, and desire to create positive change in society. He believes that drawing on faith and learning from history can promote racial understanding and healing within the Catholic Church. In the interview, he emphasised the importance of addressing racism as both an institutional and individual issue within the Church. He suggested that priests and bishops should preach about these issues and that documents on racism, such as "Open Wide Our Hearts," should be disseminated.
Father Boxie III's own faith journey as an African American Catholic has been a constant presence throughout his life. He finds inspiration and encouragement in his faith, especially during struggles and doubts. He takes pride in being a Catholic and is committed to preaching and sharing the teachings of Christ as a disciple and priest. Father Boxie III also reflected on instances of racism he had experienced in society and the Catholic Church, recognising the strength of those who endured similar struggles in the past.
The elevation of Archbishop Wilton Gregory to cardinal by Pope Francis is a significant moment for the Catholic Church and, in particular, for Black Catholics. It represents a step towards a more inclusive and diverse leadership within the Church. Father Boxie III's excitement about Cardinal Gregory's appointment reflects his own dedication to creating positive change and fostering racial understanding within the Catholic community.
Criminal Religion: Catholicism and Violence
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are. Wilton Daniel Gregory became the first African-American cardinal in the history of the Catholic Church in 2020. He is also the Archbishop of Washington D.C. and the Chancellor of the Catholic University of America.
Cardinals are the highest-ranking position in the Catholic hierarchy after the pope. They are the closest advisors to the pope and are chosen by him to help guide and serve the universal Church.
Being named a cardinal typically comes after many years of humble service to the Church. The Pope chooses men whose lives as bishops or priests reflect a strong understanding of Church teaching and who are prayerful witnesses of the Gospel.
