Father Robert Boxie III Named Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, Becomes Nation's Youngest Catholic Prelate

Father Robert Boxie III has been named Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, D.C., becoming the youngest Catholic bishop in the United States. The appointment was announced in 2026 and has been widely noted within both the Catholic Church and the African American community.

Boxie, who is Black, has built a reputation for his work in prison ministry and outreach to young people. He has served at the Archdiocese of Washington and has been a visible presence in faith-based community work in the region.

His appointment comes at a time of significant attention on Black Catholic leadership in the United States. Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, has Black Creole ancestry, a fact that has sparked renewed interest in the history and contributions of Black Catholics in America.

The Black Catholic Messenger has covered Boxie's appointment as part of broader reporting on the growing visibility of Black Catholics in church leadership. Advocates say the appointment sends an important signal about inclusion within the institutional church.

Boxie will assist the Archbishop of Washington in overseeing the archdiocese, which serves one of the most diverse Catholic populations in the country. His specific areas of responsibility have not yet been announced.

The appointment requires formal consecration as a bishop, which is expected to take place in a ceremony later this year.