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Washington, DC, archbishop Wilton Gregory is set to become the first Black American cardinal in the Catholic Church, a historic appointment that comes months after nationwide demonstrations against racial injustice.

Gregory’s ascension, announced on October 25 by Pope Francis, elevates a leader who has drawn praise for his handling of the sexual abuse scandal that has roiled the church. The Washington-area archbishop also has spoken out about the importance of Catholic leaders working to combat the sin of racial discrimination.

Simone Campbell, the Roman Catholic sister made famous by her Nuns on the Bus tours and her support for the Af­fordable Care Act, announced on Oc­to­ber 20 that she will step down early next year as head of Network, the influential social justice lobby.

A member of the Sisters of Social Service, Campbell, 74, has led the orga­nization for more than a decade and a half, during which time her advocacy sometimes put her at odds with the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and stoked pushback from the Vatican.