Archbishop of Washington

Pope Benedict XVI appointed Wuerl Archbishop of Washington on May 16, 2006.^[26] He was installed on June 22 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception^[27] and received the pallium from Pope Benedict XVI on June 29, 2006.
In April 2008, Wuerl, as Archbishop of Washington, hosted the apostolic visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the District of Columbia, which included a visit to the White House, the celebration of Vespers at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Mass at the new Nationals Park, and an address at The Catholic University of America.
Wuerl has been chairman of the board of directors of the National Catholic Educational Association since December 12, 2005.^[28][29] He is also chancellor of The Catholic University of America. In September 2010, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith named Wuerl its delegate in the United States for facilitating the implementation of the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus issued by Pope Benedict XVI in November 2009 to provide for those Anglican faithful who desire to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church in a corporate manner.^[30] He also heads the U.S. bishops' ad hoc committee to support that implementation.^[31]

Commitment to priestly formation

From 1994 until 2003, as Bishop of Pittsburgh, Wuerl served as a member of the board of governors of the Pontifical North American College in Rome (Chairman, 1998–1999), representing the Pennsylvania-New Jersey Region (Region III) of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In 2008, as Archbishop of Washington he was again elected to the college's board of governors, this time representing the Washington DC-Delaware-Maryland-Virginia-West Virginia region of the conference (Region IV).

Elevation to College of Cardinals

On November 20, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI elevated Wuerl to the College of Cardinals in a public consistory held at Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.^[32] He was created Cardinal-Priest of S. Pietro in Vincoli.^[33] In December 2010, Wuerl was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Clergy and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.^{[citation needed]}
On October 24, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI named Wuerl the Relator-General (recording secretary) of the 2012 World Synod of Bishops meeting on the New Evangelization.^[34]
On December 10, 2011, he was appointed a member of the Pontifical Council for Culture for a five-year renewable term.^[35]
On April 21, 2012, Cardinal Wuerl was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.^[36] On December 16, 2013 he was appointed a member of the Congregation for Bishops.^[37]
He was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2013 papal conclave that selected Pope Francis.^[38]