Born: March 19, 1949

Ordained to the Priesthood for the Archdiocese of Omaha: August 16, 1975

Appointed as Bishop of Rapid City: July 7, 1998

Ordained and installed as Bishop of Rapid City: September 21, 1998

Appointed as Bishop of Spokane: June 30, 2010

Installed as Bishop of Spokane: September 3, 2010

Appointed as Archbishop of Chicago: September 20, 2014

Installed as Archbishop of Chicago: November 18, 2014

Named Cardinal by Pope Francis:  October 9, 2016

Created Cardinal Priest in Consistory:  November 19, 2016

Education

S.T.D. in Sacramental Theology, with dissertation entitled: “Advent in the Roman Tradition: An Examination and Comparison of the Lectionary Readings as Hermeneutical Units in Three Periods,” The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, 1987

S.T.L. in Sacramental Theology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, 1979

M.A. in Theology, North American College and Gregorian University, Rome, 1975

S.T.B., Seminary, North American College and Gregorian University, Rome, 1974

B.A. in Philosophy, College of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN, 1971

Pastoral Assignments

Archbishop, Archdiocese of Chicago, 2014 –

Bishop, Diocese of Spokane, 2010 – 2014

Bishop, Diocese of Rapid City, 1998 – 2010

Pastor, St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Omaha, 1997 – 1998

President/Rector, Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, Ohio 1989 – 1996

Pastor, St. Mary Parish, Bellevue, 1987 – 1989

Secretary, Apostolic Nunciature, Washington, D.C. 1981 – 1987

Instructor, Continuing Education of Priests Program and Diaconate, Formation, Creighton University, Omaha, 1980 – 1981

Director of the Office for Divine Worship, Archdiocese of Omaha, Chair of the Commission on Youth, 1978 – 1981

Associate Pastor, St. Margaret Mary Parish, Omaha; Instructor, Paul VI High School, Omaha, 1975 – 1978

Memberships

USCCB Committee on Migration, 2023 to present

Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 2022 to present

USCCB Administrative Committee, 2020 to 2022

Vatican Task Force to Assist Episcopal Conferences, Congregations of Religious and Societies of Apostolic Life in Preparing and Updating Guidelines for the Protection of Minors, February 2020 to present

Knights of Peter Claver, 2018 to present

Dicastery for Culture and Educarion, 2017 to 2022, 2024 to present

USCCB Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, 2017 to 2021

National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Board of Trustees, 2016 to present

The Catholic University of America Board of Trustees, 2016 to present

Dicastery for Bishops, 2016 to present

Lieutenant Prior, North Central Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, 2015 to present

USCCB Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs,
Co-Chair of National Dialogue Initiative with Muslims, 2015 to present

USCCB Communications Committee, 2015 – 2016

Chancellor, The Catholic Church Extension Society, Chicago, Illinois, 2014 to present

Chancellor, University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, Illinois, 2014 to present

Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation Board, Custer, South Dakota, 2014 – 2015

USCCB Subcommittee for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe, 2013 to present, (Chair, 2013 – 2019)

National Catholic Educational Association, Chair, 2013 – 2015

Catholic Extension Society Mission Committee, Chair, 2011 – 2014

Catholic Extension Society Board of Governors, 2009 – 2014

USCCB Task Force on Priestly and Religious Vocations, At-large Representative, 2008 – 2014

USCCB Committee on Protection of Children and Young People, 2005-2006; Chair, 2008 – 2011

National Pastoral Life Center Board of Directors, 2006 – 2008

Apostolic Visitator to Seminaries, 2005 – 2006

Serra Club Episcopal Advisor, 2004 – 2008

USCCB Communications Committee, 1999-2003, Advisory Committee, 2004 – 2006

USCCB Committee on Vocations, Chair, 2004 – 2007

USCCB Committee on Domestic Policy, 2003 – 2004

Catholic Mutual Relief Society Trustee, 2002 to present

USCCB Ad Hoc Committee on Scripture Translation, 2002 – 2014

USCCB Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse, 2002 – 2005

USCCB Ad Hoc Committee for the 2004 Special Assembly, 2001 – 2002

USCCB Committee on the Liturgy Task Force on Liturgy with Children, 2000 – 2005

USCCB, Bishops’ Committee for Young Adults, 2000 – 2003

Saint Paul Seminary, University of St. Thomas, Board of Trustees, 1999 – 2009

USCCB Committee on the Liturgy, 1999 – 2007

Consultant, USCCB Ad Hoc Committee to Oversee the Use of the Catechism, 1999 – 2006

USCCB Ad Hoc Committee on Native American Catholics, 1999 – 2003

Pastoral Letters

“Joy Made Complete: A Pastoral Letter for the Know Love and Serve Pastoral Planning Process,” Diocese of Spokane, August 15, 2014

“He Comes to Be with Us Because He Knows We Are Dying: A Christmas Message on the Importance of the Eucharist in Our Lives; A Pastoral Letter to the People of God in western South Dakota in the Year of the Eucharist,” December 25, 2004

“Deep Waters Springing To Life: A Pastoral Letter to the People of God in Western South Dakota Gathering in Synod to Renew the Life of Faith as Discipleship, Companionship and Mission,” September 8, 2001

Publications

“Field hospital,” in A Pope Francis Lexicon, edited by Joshua J. McElwee and Cindy Wooden, Liturgical Press, 2018

“Community-Based Faith Formation: Our Common Challenge and Shared Privilege in Handing on the Faith,” in Handing on the Faith: The Church’s Mission and Challenge, edited by Robert Imbelli, Crossroad, 2006

“The Second Vatican Council: Why Should It Matter to Your Generation?” Habiger Lecture, University of St. Thomas Perspectives, July 2004

“The Priest as Administrator: Rediscovering Our Tradition of Pastoral Leadership in Priests for a New Millennium,” NCCB Publications, November 2000

“The ‘I’ of Priestly Identity in the Priest,” November 1994

Origins

Homily at Mass of Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, February 13, 2020

Our Call to Holiness:  Life and Justice for All, February 6, 2020

Priorities of Pastoral Care, October 10, 2019

Words Matter, August 29, 2019

Ordination Does Not Annihilate Our Baptism, July 18, 2019

Vatican Summit on Child Protection:  Synodality, Jointly Responsible, March 14, 2019

Bishops Asked to Meet Abuse Survivors Before Meeting with Pope, January 10, 2019

Statement on U.S. Bishops’ Meeting, December 6, 2018

Homily at Fifth National Encuentro, November 15, 2018

Intervention at Synod on Young People, October 25, 2018

Homily at Prayer Service for Healing and Justice, September 27, 2018

“Though Many, One: Some Resources for Overcoming Polarization,” June 14, 2018

“Pope Francis’ Revolution of Mercy: Amoris Laetitia as a New Paradigm of Catholicity,” February 22, 2018

Comments at News Conference on Archdiocesan Anti-Violence Efforts   April 13, 2017

Reaction to Orlando Mass Shootings, June 23, 2016

Restoring Our Civic Friendships, March 24, 2016

Speech at Justice for Immigrants Convening, November 26, 2015

Address to Chicago Federation of Labor, October 15, 2015

Homily at Mass for Investment of the Pallium, September 3, 2015

Homily at Mass for Priest Jubilarians, May 21, 2015

“A More Authentic Way of Knowing and Learning,” June 19, 2014

“Breathing Life Into the Dry Bones of Daily Life,” November 27, 2014

“Walking on Water in a Skeptical Age,” November 27, 2014

Joy Made Complete: Pastoral Letter, September 25, 2014

“Talking About Faith to a Skeptical World in a Secular Age,” September 5, 2013

“Protecting Children, Promoting Healing: It Takes a Community of Learning,” April 21, 2011

“The Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership Project: The Theological, Sacramental and Ecclesial Context,” May 15, 2008

America Magazine

"What Jesuit Catholic universities can do to stay true to their identity and mission", September 18, 2023

The Second Amendment Did Not Come Down from Sinai, May 25, 2022

Pope Francis’ Latin Mass Reforms are Necessary to Secure Vatican II’s Legacy, November 10, 2021

Ending Sex Abuse and Purifying the Church, January 20, 2020

“Mary Our Model: A Bridge Between Christians and Muslims,” May 27, 2019

Statement on U.S. Bishops’ Meeting, December 6, 2018

Homily at Prayer Service for Healing and Justice, September 27, 2018

“Pope Francis’ ‘Field Hospital’ Calls Us to Radically Rethink Church Life,” December 29, 2017

“Protecting Young People is at the Core of the Church’s Ministry,” June 22, 2016

“Francis in ‘America’: A Historic Papal Interview Draws World-wide Reaction,” October 8, 2013

“Francis the Witness: The Pope Presents a Fresh Vision of the Gospel,” September 26, 2013 
 
“Don’t Forget about the Baby: A Homily for Respect Life Mass,” January 22, 2013

“Staying Civil: Finding Opportunity in a Painful Moment,” March 5, 2012

“The Rising:  On the Loss of Sgt. Wyatt A. Goldsmith,” July 25, 2011

“The Bishops’ Priorities: Responding to the new John Jay Report on Sexual Abuse,” May 30, 2011

“Twelve Things the Bishops Have Learned from the Clergy Sexual Abuse Crisis,” May 10, 2010

“The Pope’s Call for Charity:  An Examination of Benedict XVI’s Encyclical on the Economy, August 3, 2009

“Serious Thinking: The Moral Challenge of ‘Caritas in Veritate’,” July 20, 2009

“Power in the Present:  Hope for the Future,” March 23, 2009

“Racism and the Election,” October 27, 2008

“Workers in the Vineyard,” July 21, 2008

“How Unconditional Is the Right to Life?” January 29, 2007

“Abortion and Public Policy,” September 11, 2006

Commonweal Magazine

"A Strategy for Launching a Eucharistic Revival,” September 13, 2021

“Signs of the Times: Witnessing to a Consistent Ethic of Solidarity,” June 2, 2017