Kelly to succeed Anderson as
Knights of Columbus CEO
Feb 05, 2021 • 2 Min Read
Patrick E. Kelly is seen in this undated photo. The Knights of Columbus board of directors elected him Feb. 5, 2021,
as the next Supreme Knight, succeeding Carl A. Anderson, who will retire Feb. 28. (CNS photo/courtesy
Knights of Columbus)
Patrick Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy captain, is the new leader of the Knights of Columbus, succeeding
Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson, who has headed the international fraternal organization as its CEO for more
than two decades.
Elected deputy Supreme Knight in 2017, Kelly was elected to the top post by the Knights' board of directors Feb. 5.
He begins his term as the organization's 14th Supreme Knight March 1.
Anderson will retire Feb. 28 upon reaching the organization's mandatory retirement age of 70.
"I am honored, thankful and blessed. I am honored to be called to serve as Supreme Knight," Kelly said in a Feb. 5
news release.
He credited Anderson for his guidance over the last four years.
"Carl has long been a friend to me, and while I count myself among our many colleagues who will miss his daily
contribution, I know that he will continue to contribute much to the good of the (fraternal) order as past
Supreme Knight and a member of the board of directors."
Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, supreme chaplain to the Knights, described Kelly as a "brilliant new
Supreme Knight."
"He possesses the knowledge, experience and commitment necessary to carry the order forward in service to
our brother Knights, their families, our parishes and our communities," he said in a statement.
Calling Kelly "extraordinarily well-qualified," Anderson credited the new leader for his dedication to service to
the Catholic Church, the United States and the Knights. "He is ideally suited to carry on the work of the Knights
of Columbus as we enter a new era, faithful to our principles of charity, unity and fraternity, and in close
collaboration with the Holy See and the bishops throughout the world."
With the fraternal organization, Kelly played a prominent role in international religious freedom, the Knights'
Ultrasound Initiative, and a grassroots response to the coronavirus pandemic, known as Leave No Neighbor Behind
involving members worldwide serving people in quarantine, supporting food banks and blood centers and
supporting other humanitarian services.
Kelly served 20 years in the Navy, retiring in 2016 from the military branch's Judge Advocate General's Corps
Reserve where he specialized in international and operational law. He also served as the commanding officer of
the international law unit at the U.S. Naval War College in Rhode Island.
In his career he also has served as senior adviser to the ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom
at the U.S. State Department. His responsibilities included working with the Vatican and other nations on religious
freedom issues.
Kelly joined the Knights as a university student in Wisconsin in 1983 and later served as state deputy in the District
of Columbia from 2012-2013. He was named the Knights' vice president for public policy in 2006.
He also was executive director of the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington.
