Chicago gets new, more moderate archbishop
By DON BABWIN12 hours ago
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago got its new archbishop Tuesday: Blase Cupich, chosen by Pope Francis to replace his retiring, more conservative predecessor as the leader of the third-largest U.S. diocese.
The selection of the relatively low-profile Cupich to replace Cardinal Francis George, who is retiring as he battles cancer, is Francis' first major mark on American Catholic leadership.
George, who had been the spiritual leader of more than 2 million Catholics since 1997, handed Cupich a bishop's staff and relinquished the chair that symbolizes the leadership position.
Observers say the selection of the more moderate Cupich is a signal that Francis wants a pastor to lead the archdiocese, someone who will follow his lead and emphasize mercy and ministering to the poor and create a church that is more welcoming.
The installation of the 65-year-old Cupich — who had been bishop of the Diocese of the northwestern city of Spokane — marks the first time in the history of the Chicago archdiocese that a new archbishop will assume leadership while his predecessor is still alive.
In a ceremony Monday night steeped in tradition and symbolism, Cupich arrived at the Holy Name Cathedral — crowded with hundreds of priests, religious leaders from several faiths and civic leaders — and knocked on the door three times.
Those knocks, symbolic of his request to be admitted into the cathedral, set in motion a process that included a presentation of a garment called an archdiocesan stole that represents an invitation by the priests in the archdiocese to be the pastor.
George, who had been the spiritual leader of more than 2 million Catholics since 1997, handed Cupich a bishop's staff and relinquished the chair that symbolizes the leadership position.
Observers say the selection of the more moderate Cupich is a signal that Francis wants a pastor to lead the archdiocese, someone who will follow his lead and emphasize mercy and ministering to the poor and create a church that is more welcoming.
The installation of the 65-year-old Cupich — who had been bishop of the Diocese of the northwestern city of Spokane — marks the first time in the history of the Chicago archdiocese that a new archbishop will assume leadership while his predecessor is still alive.
In a ceremony Monday night steeped in tradition and symbolism, Cupich arrived at the Holy Name Cathedral — crowded with hundreds of priests, religious leaders from several faiths and civic leaders — and knocked on the door three times.
Those knocks, symbolic of his request to be admitted into the cathedral, set in motion a process that included a presentation of a garment called an archdiocesan stole that represents an invitation by the priests in the archdiocese to be the pastor.
In his homily Monday night during what is called a Rite of Reception, Cupich said he intends to ratchet down the rhetoric that has driven young people away from religion. And he vowed to take an active role in the community, pushing for immigration reform, taking part in the battle against gangs and gun violence, among other issues.
He voiced support for Pope Francis' call for leaders in the church to be pastors, and emphasized mercy and reaching out to people instead of just simply lecturing them, to openly communicate with those with whom the church might disagree.
As he comes to an archdiocese that has shrunk in recent years and been forced to close schools amid declining enrolment, Cupich also spoke of the "formidable task of passing on the faith to the next generation" and his desire to bring young people back to the faith.
Cupich spoke forcefully Tuesday on the sexual abuse scandal that has plagued the church, including Chicago's archdiocese. In one of his last official acts, George released files on three dozen priests who had been accused of sexual abuse in the last 60 years and whose crimes were in many cases concealed by the archdiocese.
"Working together to protect children, to bring healing to victim survivors and to rebuild the trust that has been shattered in our communities by our mishandling is our sacred duty," he said, "as is holding each other accountable, for that is what we pledge to do."
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