Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C., has been named a voting member of two Vatican offices that oversee efforts to teach the Catholic faith and that promote relationships with other Christians and with Jews.

On Wednesday Pope Benedict XVI named Pittsburgh's former bishop to the Congregation for Clergy and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The latter includes the Vatican's commission for relations with Jews. He will travel to Rome for meetings.

"I'm very, very happy with both of these appointments," Cardinal Wuerl said, noting that 24 new cardinals had to be distributed among as many offices. He became a cardinal last month.

His appointment to the Congregation for Clergy surprised no one. For a decade in the 1970s he was the chief aide to Cardinal John Wright, who ran that office. He was a consultant to it for much of his 18-year tenure in Pittsburgh. It oversees instruction, ranging from catechisms for children to seminary training. Cardinal Wuerl is the author of several popular catechisms.

"I would hope they would ask me to concentrate in the area of catechetics, of teaching the faith. When I was a consultant, it was always the area they asked me to work on," he said.

He was a bit surprised at his appointment to the Council for Promoting Christian Unity. But non-Catholic friends of his who often work with that office thought it was a brilliant choice.

"That's a prayer answered," said Bishop Donald McCoid, who heads ecumenical work for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He was bishop of Southwestern Pennsylvania during Cardinal Wuerl's years here.

"He lived ecumenism and he did it with sensitivity. This is going to be good for relationships throughout the world. He brings not only a doctrinal approach, but a pastoral and relational approach," Bishop McCoid said.

Pope Benedict's tenure has been marked by tensions with Jews. Rabbi Alvin Berkun of Pittsburgh, a longtime participant in Catholic-Jewish dialogue at the Vatican level, believes his old friend may help prevent future problems.

"It's a great move," Rabbi Berkun said. "He brings a wonderful measure of sensitivity and caring and involvement in these matters. This uses his skills in a wonderful way."