CHICAGO (IL)
Windy City Media Group
by Matt Simonette
2014-09-20
Bishop Blase Cupich of Spokane, Washington, will reportedly be the successor to Cardinal Francis George in leading the Archdiocese of Chicago.
An official announcement was expected for the morning of Sept. 20.
This is the first major appointment by Pope Francis, one that will be closely watched by Catholic insiders. Cupich purportedly shares the Pope’s stated commitment to fighting poverty and economic injustice, but nevertheless took stands, albeit measured ones, against the referendum that ultimately led to gay marriage in Washington State.
George has been taking a less-active role in the day-to-day affairs of the Archdiocese since early this year, when he announced that he was battling cancer. He submitted a letter of resignation in January of 2012, but that was a formality expected of all cardinals upon their turning age 75, and it was up to the discretion of the Pope whether to accept it or not.
Cupich has been in Spokane since 2010, and spent a great deal of time cleaning up a large-scale child abuse scandal in the Church there. Ultimately, the Archdiocese filed for bankruptcy in the wake of that scandal.
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