Lawyer, 45, becomes youngest Catholic Bishop in America

At 45 years old, Auxiliary Bishop Robert Boxie III of the Archdiocese of Washington has become the youngest bishop in the United States and the first African American appointed to the episcopate in nearly a decade.

In a recent interview, Bishop Boxie reflected on his path from a successful legal career to the priesthood and now the episcopacy.

Originally from southern Louisiana, where he said “Catholicism runs deep in the soil,” Boxie earned degrees in chemical engineering and music from Vanderbilt University.

He later received a law degree from Harvard, worked as a law clerk in Maryland, and practiced as an associate at a Washington, D.C., law firm.

Despite professional success, he felt a growing call to the priesthood that he could no longer ignore. He entered seminary for the Archdiocese of Washington and was ordained a priest in 2016.

After serving as a parish priest and as chaplain at Howard University — one of the nation’s premier historically Black colleges — Pope Leo XIV appointed him auxiliary bishop of Washington.

Cardinal Robert McElroy ordained him on July 8 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

“It’s still new. It’s still fresh,” Bishop Boxie said of his new role. “The ordination was tremendous. It was a real gift to me, and my family, and my community.”

He sees his appointment as an opportunity to better minister to young Catholics and the Black Catholic community in the United States, which numbers about three million according to Pew Research.

“It’s huge, and it’s much bigger than me,” he said, acknowledging the Church’s complicated history with Black Catholics while also highlighting its positive contributions, especially in education. He believes the appointment brings hope that “the Church hasn’t forgotten them.”

Bishop Boxie also noted a personal connection with Pope Leo XIV, pointing to the Holy Father’s African ancestry and Creole roots in New Orleans — a heritage Boxie shares from southwest Louisiana.

As an auxiliary bishop, he looks forward to greater flexibility to be among the people, especially young adults navigating life and vocation in the nation’s capital.