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{{Bishop
{{Bishop
|honorific_prefix=His Eminence
|honorific_prefix=His Eminence
|name=Antoine Kambanda
|name=Wilton Daniel Gregory
|diocese=Archdiocese of Kigali
|diocese=Archdiocese of Washington (Emeritus)
|home_diocese=Archdiocese of Kigali
|home_diocese=Archdiocese of Washington
|other_diocese1=Diocese of Kibungo
|other_diocese1=Diocese of Belleville
|other_diocese2=
|other_diocese2=Archdiocese of Atlanta
|other_diocese3=
|other_diocese3=
|ordination=8 September 1990
|ordination=9 May 1973
|ordained_by=Archbishop Joseph Ruzindana
|ordained_by=Cardinal John Cody
|consecration=28 July 2013
|consecration=13 December 1983
|consecrated_by=Archbishop Andrzej Dzięga
|consecrated_by=Cardinal Joseph Bernardin
|rank=Cardinal
|rank=Cardinal
|cardinal=28 November 2020
|cardinal=28 November 2020
|created_cardinal_by=Pope Francis
|created_cardinal_by=Pope Francis
|conclave_eligibility=Eligible
|conclave_eligibility=Eligible
|birth_name=Antoine Kambanda
|birth_name=Wilton Daniel Gregory
|birth_date=10 November 1958
|birth_date=7 December 1947
|birth_place=Nyamata, Rwanda
|birth_place=Chicago, Illinois, United States
|death_date=
|death_date=
|death_place=
|death_place=
|nationality=Rwandan
|nationality=American
|education=Petit Séminaire Saint Pie X (Kigali), Grand Séminaire de Nyakibanda, Alphonsian Academy (Rome)
|education=St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Pontifical Liturgical Institute at Sant’Anselmo
|motto="Ut Unum Sint" (That They May Be One)
|motto="We Are the Lord’s"
|role=Diocesan
|role=Emeritus
|theology=Moderate
|theology=Moderate
|region=Africa
|region=North America
|rite=Roman Rite
|rite=Roman Rite
}}
}}


Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, born {{Birth date and age|1958|11|10}}, is a Rwandan prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as Archbishop of Kigali since 2018 and Rwanda’s first cardinal, elevated by Pope Francis in 2020.<ref name="web0">{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine_Kambanda |title=Antoine Kambanda |publisher=Wikipedia |date=2020-10-25 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> A survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which claimed his immediate family, Kambanda has been a prominent advocate for reconciliation, emphasizing forgiveness and unity in his pastoral work, as reflected in his motto, “Ut Unum Sint” (That They May Be One, John 17:21).<ref name="web1">{{cite web |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinals_biographies/cardinals_bio_kambanda_a.html |title=Cardinal Antoine Kambanda |publisher=Vatican Press |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> His leadership includes promoting interfaith dialogue and addressing poverty, notably through initiatives like Caritas Rwanda, and he has been praised for fostering healing in post-genocide Rwanda, as noted by Rwandan Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente in 2025.<ref name="web12">{{cite web |url=https://cardinaux.la-croix.com/antoine-kambanda/ |title=Antoine Kambanda |publisher=La Croix |date=2020-11-27 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> At 66, Kambanda is one of 19 African cardinal-electors in the 2025 papal conclave, starting May 7, where his participation, alongside pre-conclave discussions with figures like Cardinal Vincent Nichols, marks a historic moment for Rwanda’s global Church presence.<ref name="web15">{{cite web |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2025-04/conclave-who-will-elect-the-next-pope.html |title=Conclave: Who will elect the next Pope |publisher=Vatican News |date=2025-04-29 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref>
Cardinal Wilton Daniel Gregory, born {{Birth date and age|1947|12|7}}, is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as Archbishop Emeritus of Washington since his retirement in January 2025.<ref name="web0">{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilton_Gregory |title=Wilton Gregory |publisher=Wikipedia |date=2004-12-13 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> Elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis in 2020, he became the first African American cardinal, a historic milestone recognized during his tenure as president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) from 2001 to 2004, the first African American in that role.<ref name="web8">{{cite web |url=https://www.oursundayvisitor.com/a-look-back-on-cardinal-wilton-d-gregorys-historic-journey/ |title=A look back on Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory’s historic journey |publisher=Our Sunday Visitor |date=2025-02-20 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> His motto, “We Are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8), reflects his advocacy for social justice, racial equality, and inclusivity, notably through his 2025 apology to LGBTQ Catholics and leadership in addressing clergy abuse.<ref name="web10">{{cite web |url=https://outreach.faith/2025/01/cardinal-wilton-gregory-i-apologize-to-lgbtq-catholics/ |title=Cardinal Wilton Gregory: I apologize to LGBTQ Catholics |publisher=Outreach |date=2025-01-28 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> At 77, Gregory is one of nine American cardinal-electors in the 2025 papal conclave, starting May 7, contributing his experience in pastoral outreach and Church unity.<ref name="web15">{{cite web |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2025-04/conclave-who-will-elect-the-next-pope.html |title=Conclave: Who will elect the next Pope |publisher=Vatican News |date=2025-04-29 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref>


Ordained a priest in 1990, Kambanda served as Bishop of Kibungo (2013–2018) before his appointment as Archbishop of Kigali, succeeding Thaddée Ntihinyurwa.<ref name="web2">{{cite web |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bkamba.html |title=Antoine Cardinal Kambanda |publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy.org |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> His tenure has included roles in the Dicastery for Evangelization (since 2023) and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), where he has addressed migration and environmental concerns.<ref name="web1"/> In April 2025, Kambanda joined over 130 cardinals in Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral preparations, engaging in pre-conclave meetings to discuss the Church’s needs, including Rwanda’s post-genocide recovery and ecclesial challenges.<ref name="web15"/> His 2019 call for genocide perpetrators to seek forgiveness and his 2024 leadership in Rwanda’s 30th genocide commemoration underscore his commitment to healing and justice.<ref name="web12"/>
Ordained a priest in 1973, Gregory served as auxiliary bishop of Chicago (1983–1994), Bishop of Belleville (1994–2004), and Archbishop of Atlanta (2005–2019) before becoming Archbishop of Washington (2019–2025).<ref name="web9">{{cite web |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bgreg.html |title=Wilton Daniel Cardinal Gregory |publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy.org |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> His tenure included navigating the 2018 clergy abuse crisis, rejecting calls to deny Communion to President Joe Biden, and facing a 2024 Vos estis lux mundi investigation, from which he was cleared in 2025.<ref name="web9"/> In April 2025, he joined Cardinals Robert McElroy, Christophe Pierre, and Donald Wuerl in a Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to remember Pope Francis, underscoring his role in fostering dialogue.<ref name="web1">{{cite web |url=https://wjla.com/news/local/pope-francis-mass-basilica-national-shrine-immaculate-conception-northeast-dc-cardinals-select-new-pope-remember-vatican-catholic-church-leadership |title=4 cardinals participate in DC mass to remember Pope Francis; 3 will help select next pope |publisher=WJLA |date=2025-04-21 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> Gregory’s induction into the Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College in Atlanta highlights his commitment to racial justice.<ref name="web2">{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/one-electors-papal-conclave-ties-162223583.html |title=One of the electors in the papal conclave has ties to Georgia. Who is Cardinal Wilton Gregory? |publisher=Yahoo News |date=2025-04-21 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==


===Birth and early life===
===Birth and early life===
Antoine Kambanda was born on November 10, 1958, in Nyamata, Rwanda, to Théogène Ruberintwari and Immaculée Nyirabazungu.<ref name="web0"/> Raised in a Catholic family, he was the fourth of nine children, all but one of whom, along with his parents, were killed during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.<ref name="web5">{{cite web |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2020-11/rwanda-s-first-cardinal-a-sign-of-hope-for-a-wounded-nation.html |title=Rwanda’s first Cardinal: a sign of hope for a wounded nation |publisher=Vatican News |date=2020-11-28 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> Educated at Saint Joseph’s Junior Seminary in Nyarutovu, he fled to Uganda during Rwanda’s pre-genocide unrest, completing secondary education at St. Mary’s College Kisubi.<ref name="web1"/> His experience as a refugee and genocide survivor shaped his ministry of reconciliation.<ref name="web12"/>
Wilton Daniel Gregory was born on December 7, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois, to Wilton Sr. and Ethel Duncan Gregory.<ref name="web0"/> Raised in a non-Catholic family in Englewood, he attended St. Carthage Elementary School, where his exposure to Catholicism led to his conversion at age 11, facilitated by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.<ref name="web5">{{cite web |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/religion/2025/03/08/pope-successor-selection-bishops-chicago-ties-cardinal-blase-cupich-robert-prevost-wilton-gregory |title=Pope successor selection will involve bishops with Chicago ties |publisher=Chicago Sun-Times |date=2025-03-08 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> Baptized and confirmed in 1959, he discerned a priestly vocation early, influenced by Chicago’s vibrant Catholic community.<ref name="web2"/>


At age 20, Kambanda entered the Petit Séminaire Saint Pie X in Kigali, discerning a priestly vocation amidst Rwanda’s ethnic tensions.<ref name="web0"/> His early life fostered a commitment to unity, later evident in his episcopal leadership.<ref name="web5"/>
Gregory’s childhood in a segregated neighborhood shaped his advocacy for racial justice, later recognized by his Morehouse College honor.<ref name="web2"/> He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary South, fostering his commitment to pastoral service.<ref name="web0"/>


===Education===
===Education===
Kambanda studied philosophy and theology at the Grand Séminaire de Nyakibanda in Rwanda from 1983 to 1989, earning a bachelor’s degree in theology.<ref name="web0"/> He pursued moral theology at the Alphonsian Academy in Rome from 1999 to 2002, obtaining a licentiate with a focus on reconciliation and forgiveness in post-conflict societies.<ref name="web1"/> His studies emphasized pastoral approaches to healing communal trauma.<ref name="web12"/>
Gregory studied philosophy at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, earning a bachelor’s degree, and theology at the same institution, completing his formation in 1973.<ref name="web0"/> He earned a doctorate in sacred liturgy from the Pontifical Liturgical Institute at Sant’Anselmo in Rome in 1980, focusing on liturgical inculturation.<ref name="web8"/> His dissertation explored African American contributions to Catholic worship.<ref name="web5"/>


Fluent in Kinyarwanda, French, English, and Italian, Kambanda’s education equipped him for leadership in Rwanda’s multilingual and post-genocide context.<ref name="web5"/> His Roman formation deepened his alignment with Vatican II’s call for social justice.<ref name="web12"/>
Fluent in English and knowledgeable in Latin, Gregory’s education emphasized pastoral leadership and liturgy, preparing him for roles addressing social and racial issues within the Church.<ref name="web2"/> His studies aligned with Vatican II’s call for cultural integration in worship.<ref name="web8"/>


===Priesthood===
===Priesthood===
Ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Kigali on September 8, 1990, by Archbishop Joseph Ruzindana in Mbare, Uganda, Kambanda served as a parish priest in Kigali and director of Caritas Kigali (1990–1993).<ref name="web0"/> He was academic dean and professor at the Grand Séminaire de Nyakibanda (1993–1999) and rector of seminaries in Kabgayi (2002–2006) and Nyakibanda (2006–2013).<ref name="web2"/> His ministry focused on education, charity, and fostering reconciliation post-genocide.<ref name="web5"/>
Ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 9, 1973, by Cardinal John Cody, Gregory served as associate pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish and St. Carthage Parish.<ref name="web0"/> He was a professor and formation director at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary (1976–1980) and an aide to Cardinals John Cody and Joseph Bernardin.<ref name="web5"/> His early ministry included advocating for racial justice and addressing clergy abuse, roles that defined his later episcopal leadership.<ref name="web2"/>


Kambanda’s priesthood included navigating Rwanda’s recovery, advocating for forgiveness, and supporting displaced persons, roles that earned him recognition as a unifying figure.<ref name="web12"/> His work with Caritas addressed poverty and ethnic division.<ref name="web1"/>
His priesthood focused on liturgy, education, and social outreach, notably supporting immigrants and same-sex couples in pastoral settings.<ref name="web5"/> In 1980, he served on the USCCB’s liturgy committee, shaping national worship practices.<ref name="web0"/>


===Bishop===
===Bishop===
Appointed Bishop of Kibungo on May 7, 2013, by Pope Francis, Kambanda was consecrated on July 28, 2013, by Archbishop Andrzej Dzięga.<ref name="web2"/> Named Archbishop of Kigali on November 19, 2018, he was installed on January 27, 2019.<ref name="web0"/> Elevated to cardinal on November 28, 2020, he received the titular church of San Sisto.<ref name="web1"/> He is the first Rwandan cardinal, a milestone praised by Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente for Pope Francis’ recognition of Rwanda’s Church.<ref name="web12"/>
Appointed auxiliary bishop of Chicago and titular bishop of Oliva on October 31, 1983, by Pope John Paul II, Gregory was consecrated on December 13, 1983, by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin.<ref name="web9"/> Named Bishop of Belleville on December 29, 1993, he served until his appointment as Archbishop of Atlanta on December 9, 2004.<ref name="web0"/> He became Archbishop of Washington on April 4, 2019, and was elevated to cardinal on November 28, 2020, assigned the titular church of Immacolata Concezione di Maria a Grottarossa.<ref name="web8"/>


As archbishop, Kambanda has promoted interfaith dialogue, served in the Dicastery for Evangelization, and led Rwanda’s 2024 genocide commemorations.<ref name="web5"/> In 2025, he participated in Pope Francis’ funeral and pre-conclave meetings, discussing Rwanda’s history with Cardinal Vincent Nichols.<ref name="web15"/>
As archbishop, Gregory navigated the 2018 abuse crisis, promoted inclusivity, and was cleared of a 2024 Vos estis lux mundi investigation.<ref name="web9"/> He retired in January 2025 and participates in the 2025 conclave.<ref name="web15"/>


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 62: Line 62:
! Notes
! Notes
|-
|-
| Diocese of Kibungo
| Archdiocese of Chicago
| Auxiliary Bishop
| 31 October 1983
| 29 December 1993
| Titular Bishop of Oliva
|-
| Diocese of Belleville
| Bishop
| Bishop
| 7 May 2013
| 29 December 1993
| 19 November 2018
| 9 December 2004
| First episcopal appointment
| First African American president of USCCB (2001–2004)
|-
| Archdiocese of Atlanta
| Archbishop
| 9 December 2004
| 4 April 2019
| Inducted into Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers
|-
|-
| Archdiocese of Kigali
| Archdiocese of Washington
| Archbishop
| Archbishop
| 19 November 2018
| 4 April 2019
| Present
| 6 January 2025
| First Rwandan cardinal, elevated in 2020
| First African American cardinal, elevated in 2020
|}
|}


==Significant events==
==Significant events==
* Entered Petit Séminaire Saint Pie X, 1978.<ref name="web0"/>
* Converted to Catholicism, 1959.<ref name="web0"/>
* Ordained priest for Archdiocese of Kigali, 1990.<ref name="web0"/>
* Ordained priest for Archdiocese of Chicago, 1973.<ref name="web0"/>
* Survived Rwandan genocide, lost family, 1994.<ref name="web5"/>
* Earned doctorate in sacred liturgy, 1980.<ref name="web8"/>
* Earned licentiate in moral theology in Rome, 2002.<ref name="web1"/>
* Named auxiliary bishop of Chicago, 1983.<ref name="web9"/>
* Appointed rector of Nyakibanda Seminary, 2006.<ref name="web0"/>
* Appointed Bishop of Belleville, 1993.<ref name="web0"/>
* Named Bishop of Kibungo, 2013.<ref name="web2"/>
* Elected president of USCCB, 2001–2004.<ref name="web8"/>
* Appointed Archbishop of Kigali, 2018.<ref name="web0"/>
* Named Archbishop of Atlanta, 2004.<ref name="web0"/>
* Called for genocide perpetrators to seek forgiveness, 2019.<ref name="web12"/>
* Inducted into Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College, 2010.<ref name="web2"/>
* Elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis, 2020.<ref name="web0"/>
* Appointed Archbishop of Washington, 2019.<ref name="web0"/>
* Appointed to Dicastery for Evangelization, 2023.<ref name="web1"/>
* Elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis, 2020.<ref name="web8"/>
* Led Rwanda’s 30th genocide commemoration, 2024.<ref name="web12"/>
* Rejected denying Communion to President Joe Biden, 2021.<ref name="web18">{{cite web |url=https://thegoodnewsroom.org/cardinal-robert-mcelroy-to-succeed-cardinal-wilton-gregory-as-archbishop-of-washington-d-c/ |title=Cardinal Robert McElroy To Succeed Cardinal Wilton Gregory as Archbishop of Washington, D.C. |publisher=The Good Newsroom |date=2025-01-06 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref>
* Participated in Pope Francis’ funeral preparations, 2025.<ref name="web15"/>
* Cleared of Vos estis lux mundi investigation, 2025.<ref name="web9"/>
* Apologized to LGBTQ Catholics, 2025.<ref name="web10"/>
* Participated in Mass for Pope Francis, 2025.<ref name="web1"/>


==Books==
==Books==


=== Written about the bishop ===
=== Written about the bishop ===
* No specific biographies dedicated to Cardinal Kambanda were identified.
* No specific biographies dedicated to Cardinal Gregory were identified.


=== Written by the bishop ===
=== Written by the bishop ===
* No books authored by Cardinal Kambanda were identified. He has issued pastoral letters and statements through the Archdiocese of Kigali, but no published books are documented.
* No books authored by Cardinal Gregory were identified. He has issued pastoral letters and statements through the Archdiocese of Washington, but no published books are documented.


==External links==
==External links==
* [https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bkamba.html Antoine Kambanda]
* [https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bgreg.html Wilton Daniel Gregory]
* [https://www.archidiocese-kigali.org/cardinal-antoine-kambanda Biography of Cardinal Antoine Kambanda]
* [https://adw.org/about-us/who-we-are/leadership/cardinal-wilton-d-gregory/ Biography of Cardinal Wilton Daniel Gregory]
* [https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinals_biographies/cardinals_bio_kambanda_a.html Vatican Biography of Cardinal Antoine Kambanda]
* [https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinals_biographies/cardinals_bio_gregory_wd.html Vatican Biography of Cardinal Wilton Daniel Gregory]


==References==
==References==
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