Statement from Most Reverend Roy E. Campbell, Jr., Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, on the Holy Father’s Acceptance of His Eminence Cardinal Donald Wuerl’s Resignation as Archbishop of Washington

“It is with my heartfelt love and thanks that I express my gratitude to Your Eminence, Donald Cardinal Wuerl, for your love and pastoral care of the lay faithful, religious and clergy of the Archdiocese of Washington for the past twelve years as our Archbishop. With that same love and thanks, I remember and thank you for the pastoral care and guidance that you have given me personally over that same twelve years.

I had the honor of being the first man you ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ as Archbishop of Washington. During my first year of priestly ministry, I twice requested an appointment with you to discuss matters of concern for me. Each time, you stopped what you were doing to say, “Let’s talk now.” I realized that what was of concern for me, was of concern for you. That is the love and concern you have shown to all the people you cared for as Archbishop of Washington, lay faithful, religious, as well as clergy.

The generosity of your time and the wisdom of your counsel helped me to love and care for the people of God that you have assigned me to, first as a Parochial Vicar, then as a Pastor, and now sharing more fully in your Episcopal ministry as an Auxiliary Bishop of Washington.

It is that love and care for God’s children in this Archdiocese that led you to ask our Holy Father, Pope Francis, to accept the resignation that you submitted to him almost three years ago. The desire to do what is best for the people of God in the Archdiocese of Washington will be your example of being a true shepherd, that I will try to emulate in my Episcopal ministry. Cardinal Wuerl, may God continue to bless you in this period of transition and beyond.”

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