Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl is a Power Player Under Pope Francis

The Washington Post ^ | 4/28/14 | Michelle Boorstein

[marshmallow]

The meal was a typical fundraiser of local Catholic power players, but one detail stuck out: Washington’s archbishop, Donald Wuerl, was seated at a regular round table down on the floor, while his extroverted, well-known predecessor, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, dined on the raised stage.

In a faith community where ritual and hierarchy are explicit and treasured, some found the seating at the late 2000s event notable, as they also did Wuerl’s demeanor. The archbishop seemed totally fine with the arrangement.

“I was really struck. Most bishops would want to be up there and wouldn’t allow this to happen,” said the Rev. Thomas Reese, who has written several books on the lives of U.S. bishops. “But Cardinal Wuerl was more than happy to let Cardinal McCarrick be the one up there.”

With his unassuming and reserved style, Wuerl is not a well-known figure to the region’s growing number of Catholics, many of whom probably don’t realize that their leader is one of the world’s most influential bishops. Pope Benedict had already named the slender 73-year-old in 2010 to craft the church’s modern-day evangelization message, but Pope Francis in December further solidified Wuerl’s stature by picking him as the only new American on the powerful, 30-member Vatican body that selects bishops.

[marshmallow]

Various reports have claimed that Wuerl played a major role in the election of the current pope.

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Forgot to include LINK to remainder of article.

[PatriotGirl827]

Oh boy.

[dangus]

Wuerhl’s not one of the good guys.

[Alex Murphy]

Various reports have claimed that Wuerl played a major role in the election of the current pope.

PFL

[PatriotGirl827]

I know. What a mess.

[ebb tide]

He’s not even a “guy”.