Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory Named As Sixth Archbishop of Atlanta

Published: December 9, 2004

Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum. Habemus episcopum.

I bring to you today a message of great joy. We have a new bishop.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - Effective December 9, 2004 at 6 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Pope John Paul II has appointed Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory, SLD, presently the seventh bishop of Belleville, Illinois, the Archbishop-Designate of the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

Archbishop-Designate Gregory, 57, will become Atlanta’s sixth archbishop, succeeding Archbishop John F. Donoghue, who has served as Archbishop of Atlanta since August 19, 1993. Archbishop Donoghue submitted his resignation at age 75 on August 9, 2003 in accord with Canon Law.

A joint press conference with Archbishop Donoghue and Archbishop-Designate Gregory will be held at the Catholic Center of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, 680 West Peachtree Street, NW, Atlanta, GA 30308 at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, December 9.