“It was with the greatest of pleasure that I learned today that His Excellency, The Most Reverend Donald W. Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, and His Excellency, The Most Reverend Raymond L. Burke, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, are to be raised to the dignity of the Cardinalate by our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.  I have known Archbishop Wuerl since his seminary days when I was serving on the faculty of the Pontifical North American College.  He was an outstanding seminarian and has proved to be a most zealous and dedicated priest, Bishop, and Archbishop.  Archbishop Burke I have also known for many years.  When he was doing his doctoral work in Canon Law in Rome, I was a Judge of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota and had many occasions to discuss with him Canon Law and his doctoral dissertation during its preparation.  He is a brilliant canonist and a most devoted Prefect of the Church’s highest tribunal on which I have the honor to serve.  Today I contacted both Archbishop Wuerl and Archbishop Burke to express to each of them my heartfelt congratulations and prayerful best wishes.”

 

                                                            Edward Cardinal Egan

                                                            Archbishop Emeritus of New York

                                               

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