Donald William Wuerl was born in Pittsburgh on 12 November 1940. He studied at the Athenaeum of Ohio and the Catholic University of America (BA and MA in philosophy), the North American College in Rome, and took a doctorate in theology from the Angelicum. Ordained a priest on 17 December 1966 in St Peter's Basilica, he was assistant pastor at St Rosalia in Pittsburgh and, from 1969 to 1979, priest-secretary to Bishop John Wright in the Vatican. He became a bestselling catechist — The Teaching of Christ and The Catholic Way among many books.
Appointed titular bishop of Rosemarkie and auxiliary of Seattle on 30 November 1985, he was consecrated by John Paul II on 6 January 1986, then became Bishop of Pittsburgh (1988–2006) and Archbishop of Washington in May 2006. He hosted Benedict XVI (2008) and Francis (2015) on their US visits, and served as Relator General of the 2012 Synod on the New Evangelization. Benedict XVI created him a cardinal on 20 November 2010, with the title of San Pietro in Vincoli. On 12 October 2018 Francis accepted his resignation as archbishop; he served as administrator until Wilton Gregory's arrival in 2019. He turned 80 in November 2020.
Major Works & Initiatives
Archbishop of Washington
Twelve years in the US capital see.
Bishop of Pittsburgh
Eighteen years in his home diocese.
Relator General of the New Evangelization Synod
Benedict XVI's choice to steer the 2012 synod.
Controversies
The 2018 grand jury report
A 2018 Pennsylvania grand jury report criticized Wuerl's handling of sexual abuse cases during his Pittsburgh years; he has denied mishandling them. Separate accusations held that he knew of allegations against his Washington predecessor, Theodore McCarrick, which he initially denied. Francis accepted his resignation on 12 October 2018.