BISHOP FEUDJIO MEETS ARCHBISHOP-ELECT ROBERT CARDINAL MCELROY

January 8, 2025

On January 7, 2025, Most Reverend Jerome Feudjio, Bishop of the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, met His Eminence Robert Cardinal McElroy, the Archbishop-elect of Washington, D.C. Pope Francis appointed Cardinal McElroy as the new Archbishop on January 6, 2025.

During their meeting which took place in Washington D.C., Bishop Feudjio extended his congratulations and well-wishes from the Diocese of St Thomas following the appointment of the Cardinal as the new Archbishop of Washington D.C. The encounter was marked by a spirit of mutual respect and a shared commitment to the mission of the Church.

Cardinal McElroy, born on February 5, 1954 in San Francisco, has had a distinguished journey in the Church. Ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 1980, he served as Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco from 2010 to 2015 before being appointed as the Bishop of San Diego in 2015 where he has served until his new appointment. Pope Francis elevated him to the College of Cardinals on August 27, 2022. Cardinal McElroy is known for his dedication to social justice and pastoral care, and his appointment as the Archbishop of Washington, D.C., marks a significant new chapter in his ministry.

Cardinal McElroy will succeed His Eminence Wilton Cardinal Gregory, who has served as the Archbishop of Washington, D.C. since 2019. Born on December 7, 1947, in Chicago, Cardinal Gregory was ordained a priest in 1973. He served as Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago from 1983 to 1994, Bishop of Belleville from 1994 to 2004, and Archbishop of Atlanta from 2005 to 2019. Pope Francis made him a cardinal on November 28, 2020, making him the first African-American cardinal. Cardinal Gregory is celebrated for his commitment to inclusivity and his leadership during challenging times, including his role in addressing the sexual abuse crisis in the Church.

The Diocese of St. Thomas, the only suffragan diocese in the Ecclesiastical Province of Washington, D.C., looks forward to a renewed relationship with the Archdiocese of Washington D.C. under the leadership of Archbishop-elect McElroy while expressing deep gratitude for the service of Cardinal Gregory.