His Excellency Jerome Feudjio

At the conclusion of the Angelus, on November 25, Pope Francis had announced a Consistory for the creation of 13 cardinals.  Among them, Bishop Wilton Daniel Gregory, Archbishop of Washington. On Saturday, November 28, 2020, after three negative Covid-19 tests, while in a 10 days quarantine at a Vatican resident building,  Archbishop Gregory and 10 other new bishops that had been able to travel, were allowed to attend that very special and colorful ceremony where Gregory became the first Black American to earn the rank of Cardinal.  

With this elevation, Cardinal Gregory has become one of the papal electors. The Catholic Church now regroups 229 cardinals eligible to vote for the next pope. This number includes 128 cardinals under 80 years old among which 73 have been named by Pope Francis. It is worthy to note that even though Pope Francis did not wear a mask for the ceremony, Cardinal Gregory kept his on. 

Later on, after the ceremony, the Pope and the new Cardinals payed a visit to retired Pope Benedict XVI now 93 at the Monastery where he resides inside the Vatican. He was pleased to see the new Cardinals and joyfully gave them his blessings. .