Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the Archbishop of Washington, D.C., is the first African-American Cardinal and this is what he is quoted as saying, that his appointment was an "affirmation of Black Catholics in the U.S." Black Catholics have certainly added greatly to the Church's mission, in the past and in modern times as well. Pope Francis elevated 13 Cardinals in Rome, including Cardinal Gregory, all of whom were wearing masks, in a sign of the strange times we are living through.
Pope Francis warned the new Cardinals not to use their new titles for "personal gain or corruption," (God forbid!). The problem is their new title, "Eminence," makes it hard for these Cardinals and all the others to stay humble, like Christ. What's in a title? A lot. Their new title should be, "Servants of the Church," in my humble opinion, or something like that......I think the title "Your Eminence" should be done away with. It makes it challenging for the Cardinals to stay humble and remember their roots.
Christ is so humble, without any pretense at all.
So best of luck and God's blessings on America's newest Cardinal. May he bring many Black Catholics and others, who have drifted from their faith, back to it.
NJA
