UNITED STATES
ABC News
Sep 20, 2014, 5:04 AM ET
By RACHEL ZOLL AP Religion Writer
Bishop Blase Cupich, a moderate who has called for civility in the culture wars and has embraced Pope Francis’ focus on fighting poverty, will be named the next archbishop of Chicago, The Associated Press has learned.
Cupich of Spokane, Washington will succeed Cardinal Francis George, according to a person with knowledge of the selection, who spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the person wasn’t authorized to speak publicly.
The Archdiocese of Chicago has scheduled a news conference for Saturday morning. A spokeswoman for the archdiocese would not comment. George, 77, has been battling cancer and has said he believes the disease will end his life.
The pope’s choice for Chicago has been closely watched as his first major appointment in the U.S., and the clearest indication yet of the direction he will steer American church leaders. Cupich is a moderate and is not among U.S. Roman Catholic bishops who have taken a harder line on hot-button issues. Francis has called for a greater focus on mercy and compassion instead of divisive social issues.
The Archdiocese of Chicago serves 2.2 million parishioners and is the third-largest diocese in the country. Chicago archbishops are usually elevated to cardinal and are therefore eligible to vote for the next pope.
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