The first African-American cardinal in history, personally chosen by Pope Francis, works out of a brick building near the West Hyattsville Metro station.

Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington, became the highest-ranking African-American Catholic in history late last month in a ceremony in Rome. While staying there, he celebrated Thanksgiving with Pope Francis.

He was welcomed back Thursday with balloons and a banner outside the Archdiocese of Washington Pastoral Center, where he works, on Eastern Avenue, located just outside Hyattsville city limits.

As one of 229 members of the College of Cardinals, Gregory was hand-picked by Pope Francis, and in turn could help pick the next pope, if that happens in the next seven years, since only cardinals under the age of 80 are allowed to vote.

A native of Chicago, Gregory played a key role in the response to the church’s sex abuse scandal, breaking with the norm by acknowledging the victims and leading action by American bishops to change church policy.