Patrick O'Boyle

Patrick Aloysius O'Boyle (July 18, 1896 – August 10, 1987) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Washington from 1948 to 1973, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1967.##

As Archbishop of Washington, O'Boyle greatly expanded the Catholic infrastructure of the archdiocese, creating numerous parishes and schools, and establishing three universities. He also promoted social justice and civil rights, advocating for the integration of Catholic schools and marching with Martin Luther King Jr.##

During O'Boyle's tenure, the Archdiocese of Washington experienced significant growth and development, including the establishment of Catholic University of America School of Nursing in 1950, the opening of John Carroll Society for the promotion of the Catholic faith in 1951, and the rededication of the renovated Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in 1959.##

O'Boyle played a crucial role in fighting for civil rights and was a strong advocate for desegregation. He supported the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, desegregating schools, and in 1963, he ordered the integration of Catholic schools in the archdiocese. O'Boyle also participated in the 1963 March on Washington and publicly endorsed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.##

Patrick O'Boyle was elevated to the rank of cardinal by Pope Paul VI on June 26, 1967. He was appointed Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Consolatrice al Tiburtino.