Msgr. Pope is pastor of Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian, Washington, DC. Msgr. Charles Pope was born July 10, 1961 in Chicago, Illinois to Charles and Nancy Pope. He and his family moved to the Washington, D.C. area in 1972. He studied in the public school system and graduated from Garfield Senior High School in Woodbridge, VA in 1979. Fr. Pope attended George Mason University for Undergraduate Studies where he attained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science in 1984. He worked briefly with the Army Corp of Engineers as a Computer Systems Analyst. Fr. Pope’s interest in the priesthood stems from his experience as a church musician. Through his college years he served as a church organist, a cantor and choir director and through this work discovered his vocation to the priesthood. He entered Mt. Saint Mary’s Seminary in 1985 where he earned a Master of Divinity Degree as well as a Master of Arts Degree in Moral Theology. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 24, 1989 by James Cardinal Hickey. Fr. Pope’s first assignment was at Mt. Calvary Parish in Forestville, MD as Associate Pastor from 1989-1993. From 1993-1999 Fr. Pope served as Associate Pastor of Holy Comforter St. Cyprian Parish in Southeast Washington, D.C.  From 1999-2000 he was Associate Pastor at St. Mary’s Parish in Laurel, MD. In April of 2000 Fr. Pope was appointed Pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Southeast Washington, D.C. In 2007 Msgr. Pope returned to Holy Comforter – St. Cyprian Parish where he currently serves as Pastor. From 1997-1999 Fr. Pope Conducted a Weekly Bible Study in the U.S. Congress which was well attended. He also  conducted a weekly Bible Study at the White House from 2004-2008. Other ongoing assignments for Fr. Pope include, being the Spiritual Director for the Washington Comitium of the Legion of Mary and Archdiocesan Coordinator for the Celebration of the Latin Mass. He is a member of the Priest Council is an Archdiocesan Consultor and a member of the Priest Personnel Board. He was named a Monsignor in 2005. He has published several articles in pastoral journals, offered a regular column in the Catholic Standard, has taught numerous catechetical courses both in his parish work, and for the Archdiocese. He has conducted numerous Priest retreats and writes and moderates a daily blog for the Archdiocese. Msgr. Pope has also served as Dean of the Southeast Deanery and is currently the Dean of the Northeast Deanery. Msgr. Pope immensely enjoys his work as a diocesan priest and a parish pastor.