On Nov. 28, 2020 when Pope Francis elevated 13 new cardinals from around the world – including Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory, the archbishop of Washington – the pontiff reminded the new cardinals of the importance of remaining as “a pastor close to your people.”

Returning home from Rome, Cardinal Wilton Gregory carried out a busy year of doing just that – celebrating Masses at parishes, visiting schools and supporting outreach programs in The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, amid safety protocols necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.