Leaders react to the elevation of the first African-American cardinal
With history now having officially been made, figures and institutions from around the country and world showed love to the newest American cardinal—the first Black Catholic one from the United States.
Pope Francis has elevated Archbishop Wilton Gregory to cardinal, the first African American in Catholic history to hold that rankhttps://t.co/jI4XAqBEYl
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) November 28, 2020
Congrats and prayers for @WashArchbishop, the first African American to be named to the College of Cardinals! https://t.co/MYb1EzQPJK
— U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) November 28, 2020
#DCProud of Cardinal Gregory! https://t.co/tlbZQhIeFE
— Muriel Bowser (@MurielBowser) November 28, 2020
Congratulations to the 13 newest members of the College of Cardinals, in particular to Cardinal Wilton Gregory, archbishop of @washarchdiocese, a Chicago native and archdiocesan priest. He makes us proud.
— Cardinal Cupich (@CardinalBCupich) November 28, 2020
Thank you, @archchicago, for this beautiful video of well wishes to your native son, #CardinalGregory Watch this celebration video from his Chicago friends and family incl a personal story from #CardinalGregory’s sister, Elaine https://t.co/pWULUnW3DZ pic.twitter.com/0iDueinoOX
— Paula Gwynn Grant (@PaulaGwynnGrant) November 28, 2020
I'm currently witnessing a miracle! @Pontifex, the #CatholicChurch's 1st leader from Latin America, is formally elevating @WashArchbishop, a devout #BlackCatholic man from the South Side of Chicago, to the College of Cardinals as an elector. #Amenhttps://t.co/55TtIUmosu
— Shannen Dee Williams, Ph.D. (@BlkNunHistorian) November 28, 2020
It's 2020 and we're still seeing firsts for African Americans. Hard to believe, but we celebrate them nonetheless!
— Sherri Shepherd (@sherrieshepherd) November 28, 2020
Wilton D. Gregory is about to become the first African American cardinal in Catholic history. https://t.co/RYWl9Wa1At#WiltonGregory #BlackHistory
.@WashArchbishop Wilton Gregory re-dedicates his life to God in a solemn oath as @Pontifex elevates him + 12 others to the College of Cardinals.
— St Augustine RC DC (@StAugustineRCDC) November 28, 2020
Glory to God in the highest! #TheJoyofTheGospel #blackcatholichistorymonth @WashArchdiocese #FratelliTutti pic.twitter.com/HNRPnK663L
.@CatholicPres & the Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, students, staff, & alumni of CatholicU join in congratulating our University Chancellor, @WashArchdiocese Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, on his elevation by Pope Francis to the College of Cardinals. pic.twitter.com/nNpriq5q7B
— The Catholic University of America (@CatholicUniv) November 28, 2020
My grandmother would be so happy for this day. Not something that she could have ever imagined, an African American Cardinal. My watchfulness about this story of Cardinal Gregory is for her.
— ProfB (@AntheaButler) November 28, 2020
Congratulations to Archbishop Wilton Gregory on being elevated to Cardinal! We are so proud of you! All our love, Interfaith & The Bissett Family🤍
— The Interfaith Kabbalah Centre in Paris (@InterfaithParis) November 28, 2020
Archbishop Wilton Gregory becomes the first African American Roman Catholic Cardinal. #AfAmReligion #AmRel #BlackCatholicHistory pic.twitter.com/Tp3yw8S2FH
— Judith Weisenfeld (@JLWeisenfeld) November 28, 2020
Wilton Gregory’s elevation to the College of Cardinals is historic, and I pray so many others come to see him for the remarkable pastor he is, recognizing the kindness & attention he gives to the people he meets.
— Katie Prejean McGrady (@KatiePrejean) November 28, 2020
See the rest of our coverage of Cardinal Gregory here.
Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder of Black Catholic Messenger, a priesthood applicant with the Josephites, and a ThM student w/ the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA).