Bishop Burbidge welcomes the appointment of
Archbishop Wilton Gregory as the new archbishop of Washington

With all of the faithful of the Diocese of Arlington, I welcome the appointment of Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory as Archbishop of Washington by our Holy Father Pope Francis.

During my tenure as Bishop of Raleigh, I came to know Archbishop Gregory as the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Province of Atlanta and as an effective preacher of the truth and joy of the Gospel. In that capacity, he was greatly respected by clergy and consecrated religious, and he demonstrated a great appreciation for the gifts of the lay faithful and sought their collaboration and expertise. He is known by many to be a joyful shepherd and a talented administrator. His zeal for the Catholic Faith, desire to evangelize, and love for the poor will all greatly contribute to the Archdiocese of Washington’s essential ministries.

The appointment of a new leader in any diocese provides an opportunity to look forward with hope and with a renewed commitment to fulfilling the Church’s mission of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus, serving those in need, and welcoming new members, all in a way that gives glory to God. With fraternal joy, I look forward to collaborating with Archbishop Gregory in his future ministry as chief shepherd of the Archdiocese of Washington, and I assure him and all of the faithful of the Archdiocese of Washington of the prayers of God’s people in the Diocese of Arlington.