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(CNN) – Wilton Gregory of Washington is the first black cardinal in Catholic history.
Gregory was appointed by Pope Francis during an installation ceremony in Rome on Saturday.
He was one of 13 men, and the only American, elevated to the College of Cardinals. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, two bishops (one from Brunei and the other from the Philippines) were not in Rome for the ceremony, another first in church history, according to Vatican News.
In keeping with the pope’s concerns for Catholics who have historically been marginalized, the other new cardinals include men from Rwanda, Brunei, Chile and the Philippines.
Due to the pandemic, the ceremony inside St. Peter’s Basilica was limited to about 100 people. Most of the people who attended wore masks, however Pope Francis did not, something for which he has been criticized in the past. Last month, a Vatican official told CNN they are “trying to convince” the pontiff to wear a mask in public. “We are working on that,” said Augusto Zampini Zampini, Vatican coordinator of the covid-19 Commission.
The new cardinals knelt before Pope Francis, who imposed on them the cap and the red cardinal hat. Francis handed over the cardinal’s ring and assigned each a church in Rome.
Gregory will be a close advisor to the pope
Gregory, 72, already the highest ranking black Catholic in American history, told CNN this week that he has been praying, writing homilies and letters to supporters and reflecting on his new role.
“It was a time to thank God for this unique moment in my life and in the life of the church in America,” said Gregory. “I hope it is a sign to the black community that the Catholic Church has great reverence, respect and esteem for people, for my people of color.”
As cardinal, Gregory will be one of the pope’s closest advisers and one of approximately 120 men who will elect the next pontiff.
Before Francis elected Gregory as Archbishop of Washington last year, he also served as bishop in Belleville, Illinois, and Atlanta. He was born in Chicago to parents who were not Catholic, but they converted to Catholicism while attending a parochial school.
Daniel Burke and Delia Gallagher contributed to this report.
