Cardinal Donald William Wuerl is a retired Archbishop of Washington D.C. best known for his commitment to education and evangelization, but who was accused of mishandling financial and sexual abuse cases in the twilight of his ecclesiastical career.

Born on November 12, 1940, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Donald Wuerl began his journey in the Catholic Church by entering college seminary at the Athenaeum of Ohio in 1958. Wuerl received his B.A. and M.A. in philosophy from the Catholic University of America in 1963 before continuing his studies at the North American College in Rome.

Ordained to the priesthood on December 17, 1966, in St. Peter’s Basilica, Wuerl went on to earn a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas in Rome. His early career included serving as an assistant pastor at St. Rosalia Parish in Pittsburgh and as priest-secretary to Bishop John Wright. From 1969 to 1979, Wuerl worked in Vatican City as Wright’s full-time priest-secretary.

Wuerl’s episcopal journey began on November 30, 1985, when he was appointed titular Bishop of Rosemarkie and Auxiliary of Seattle. Pope John Paul II ordained him a bishop on January 6, 1986. He then served as Bishop of Pittsburgh from 1988 to 2006 before being appointed Archbishop of Washington in May 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI elevated Wuerl to the College of Cardinals on November 20, 2010, creating him Cardinal-Priest of San Pietro in Vincoli. As a cardinal, Wuerl has served on various Vatican congregations and councils, including those for the Doctrine of the Faith and for Bishops.

On October 12, 2018, Pope Francis accepted Cardinal Wuerl’s resignation as Archbishop of Washington, which he had initially offered in 2015 upon reaching the age of 75.

The end of Wuerl’s ecclesiastical career was not without controversy, especially regarding his handling of sexual abuse allegations. Wuerl became a prominent figure in discussions about clerical sexual abuse, particularly following the release of the Pennsylvania grand jury report in 2018, which criticized his management of abuse cases during his time as Bishop of Pittsburgh. The report implicated him in covering up abuse and described him as having created a “circle of secrecy” around such cases.

Cardinal Wuerl was also involved providing misleading information to secure a $25 million grant for the Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata (IDI), a financially troubled hospital in Rome. The inaccuracies led the board of the Papal Foundation to approve the grant under false pretenses. After internal disagreements became public, Wuerl requested that the Vatican cancel the grant and return the funds.

Cardinal Wuerl’s involvement in the case of Theodore McCarrick also cast a shadow over his legacy as it was characterized by a pattern of limited disclosure and carefully worded statements, which eroded trust in his leadership.

Despite these clouds over his career, Wuerl remains known for his commitment to education and evangelization. He established the Saint John Paul II Seminary in 2011 and launched various initiatives to encourage faith sharing and religious education.

Wuerl is also a prolific author, having written numerous articles and more than a dozen books, including best-selling catechisms.