CHICAGO (IL)
National Catholic Reporter

Catholic News Service | Apr. 17, 2015

CHICAGO Cardinal Francis E. George, the retired archbishop of Chicago who was the first native Chicagoan to head the archdiocese, died Friday at his residence after nearly 10 years battling cancer. He was 78.

His successor in Chicago, Archbishop Blase Cupich, called George “a man of peace, tenacity and courage” in a statement he read at a news conference held outside Holy Name Cathedral to announce the death.

Cupich singled out George for overcoming many obstacles to become a priest and “not letting his physical limitations moderate his zeal for bringing the promise of Christ’s love where it was needed most.”

A childhood bout with polio had left the prelate with a weakened leg and a pronounced limp throughout his life. …

Cupich in his statement also noted that when the U.S. church “struggled with the grave…