The cornerstone for the Cathedral of the Holy Name of Jesus in Raleigh is seen after Pope Francis' general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 9. At the audience Pope Francis blessed the cornerstone of Raleigh's first cathedral, scheduled to be completed in 2017. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

The cornerstone for the Cathedral of the Holy Name of Jesus in Raleigh is seen after Pope Francis’ general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Dec. 9. At the audience Pope Francis blessed the cornerstone of Raleigh’s first cathedral, scheduled to be completed in 2017. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Posted December 10, 2015

Pope Francis, following his regular Wednesday audience in Rome on Dec. 9, blessed the cornerstone of Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral for the Diocese of Raleigh and met with Raleigh’s Bishop Michael F. Burbidge.

“It was a great privilege to have Pope Francis bless the cornerstone of our new Cathedral,” said Bishop Burbidge, a Philadelphia area native and former auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. “He expressed congratulations to all in the Diocese and assured us of his prayers. He was happy to learn that our Cathedral will be called Holy Name of Jesus. Pope Francis also asked us to pray for him.”

The groundbreaking for the new cathedral took place in January 2015, and it is scheduled for completion in 2017.