Wilton GREGORY — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

Appointed the first African-American Cardinal by Pope Francis in 2020.
Served as Archbishop of Washington from 2019 to 2025.
Served as the first African-American president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) from 2001 to 2004.
Led the USCCB in issuing the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People."
Served as Archbishop of Atlanta from 2005 to 2019.
Received a Doctor of Sacred Liturgy degree (SLD) from the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome in 1980.

Biography

Wilton Daniel Gregory Jr. is an American Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Washington from 2019 to 2025. Pope Francis made him a cardinal in 2020, making him the first of African-American descent.

Gregory was the first African-American president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) from 2001 to 2004.