the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,<\/a> said the invitation to come to Wilmington came from Bishop Koenig, whom he described as a good friend. He has been asked to visit African-American parishes across the United States for many years, he said, but when he was in active ministry it was tough to get away from his dioceses.<\/p>\n\u201cNow that I\u2019m retired, I have a chance to accept the invitations. That gives me a wonderful experience of our Black Catholic community and their great fidelity to the church, their willingness to pursue the faith in spite of many, many obstacles that they\u2019ve had to confront that were the result of racism or neglect. I\u2019m glad to support those kinds of communities,\u201d he said by phone from his office in Washington.<\/p>\n
A native of Chicago, Cardinal Gregory grew up familiar with a number of Black or predominantly Black parishes there, as well as in Atlanta and Washington, two archdioceses he later led. Those churches \u201chave such a welcoming aura.\u201d<\/p>\n
His experience with predominantly Black parishes is that they draw a wide array of people, regardless of race, ethnicity, age or residence. People \u201cenjoy being in prayer in these parishes. They love the music, they love the hospitality, they love the preaching, the fellowship, the welcome.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose Black parishes have demonstrated, and continue to demonstrate, a wonderful presence in the community that reaches far beyond the African American community.\u201d<\/p>\n
The cardinal recalled saying Mass in Atlanta after the shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., in 2015, in which nine Black worshipers were killed by a white man.<\/p>\n
Cardinal Gregory was approached by the media after the service, and one person asked him why there were so many white people in attendance at the church, Our Lady of Lourdes, Atlanta\u2019s mother church for African-American Catholics.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said, \u201cThey are Catholics, and this is their parish.\u201d They\u2019ve been there for years, and I suspect that\u2019s the case at St. Joseph\u2019s, too,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Cardinal Gregory, who received his red hat in 2020, will have a chance to greet attendees as they exit the church before heading back to Washington. He said it is something he enjoys; he wants to know if he might have a shared history or background with other Catholics.<\/p>\n
Cardinal Gregory also shared some thoughts about his fellow Chicago White Sox fan, Pope Leo. Both are from the city\u2019s South Side and have met each other on a number of occasions.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a great gift to the church, and he\u2019s a healing gift,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
People used to say there could never be an American pope, the cardinal said, something that made no sense to him. Pope Leo has proven him correct.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe speaks fluent Spanish, English, Italian. He enjoys traveling. He\u2019s done all the right things to be a sign of hope and unity for the church throughout the world,\u201d Cardinal Gregory said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\nkabarsula SLOT <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thedialog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/20240411T0700-SYNOD-GREGORY-ROME-1775070-scaled.jpg\" "\\"CARDINAL")
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