Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl was installed in June 2006 as the sixth Archbishop of Washington. He is known nationally for his catechetical and teaching ministry and for his efforts on behalf of Catholic education. 

Archbishop Wuerl serves on numerous national and international bodies and is currently a member of the Vatican council for the Synod of Bishops. He is chairman of the board of directors of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, chancellor of The Catholic University of America and the former chairman of the board of the National Catholic Bioethics Center.  He is chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, chairman-elect of the Committee on Doctrine and chairman of the board of the National Catholic Educational Association.  He has served as chairman of the USCCB committees on Education, Priestly Life and Ministry, the North American College, and Priestly Formation.  He is the author of numerous articles and books, including the best-selling catechisms, The Teaching of Christ and The Catholic Way.

Archbishop Wuerl served as host in Washington to Pope Benedict XVI on the Holy Father’s historic journey to the United States in April 2008.  The Archbishop is also active in community activities, joining with civic and business leaders to promote education, service to the poor, pastoral assistance to refugees and immigrants as well as interfaith understanding.

The Archbishop was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and received graduate degrees from The Catholic University of America, the Gregorian University while attending the North American College, and a doctorate in theology from the University of Saint Thomas in Rome in 1974. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 17, 1966, and ordained a bishop by Pope John Paul II on January 6, 1986 in Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome. He served as Auxiliary Bishop in Seattle until 1987 and then as Bishop of Pittsburgh for 18 years until his appointment to Washington.

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