Pope Francis names D.C. archbishop Wilton Gregory, 12 others to College of Cardinals

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Pope Francis on Sunday elevated Archbishop of Washington, D.C., Wilton Gregory, to cardinal, making him the first African American appointed to the red-hat conclave.

The 72-year-old Gregory, who led the Roman Catholic Church's response to an internal sexual abuse scandal in the early 2000s, was one of 13 new cardinals named by Pope Francis during his noontime prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. The cardinal nominees will be installed during a ceremony on Nov. 28.

"With a very grateful and humble heart, I thank Pope Francis for this appointment which will allow me to work more closely with him in caring for Christ’s Church," cardinal-elect Gregory said in a statement following the news from the Holy See.

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Pope Francis appointed Gregory as the seventh archbishop of the Archdiocese of Washington on April 4, 2019.

Earlier this year, Gregory issued a statement rebuking a visit by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump to the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., for a photo op.

“I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles, which call us to defend the rights of all people even those with whom we might disagree," Gregory said.

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