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VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI named Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington to be a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and gave cardinals created in February their assignments as members of other Vatican congregations and councils.

The appointments were announced at the Vatican April 21.

U.S. Cardinal Edwin F. O'Brien, grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, which supports the pastoral and educational work of church in the Holy Land, was named to the congregations for Eastern Churches and for Catholic Education, as well as to the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, which promotes and coordinates Catholic charitable giving.

Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, who was tapped by the pope to lead the College of Cardinals in a daylong discussion of the new evangelization Feb. 17, was named a member of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, as well as being named a member of the Congregation for Eastern Churches and of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

Cardinal Thomas C. Collins of Toronto was named a member of the Congregation for Catholic Education, which supports and guides the work of Catholic schools, universities and seminaries. He also was named a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

Creating new cardinals -- including Cardinals O'Brien, Dolan and Collins -- Feb. 18, Pope Benedict said they were called to "cooperate closely with him in governing the universal church."

In supporting the pope's universal ministry, he said, "the new cardinals will be called to consider and evaluate the events, the problems and the pastoral criteria which concern the mission of the entire church."

— Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service