CHICAGO (IL)
ABC 7
CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago’s Francis Cardinal George introduced Archbishop-Elect Blase Cupich on Saturday. Cupich will succeed George, becoming the 9th archbishop at the Chicago Archdiocese.
“I was quite overwhelmed, very surprised. . . My breath was taken away,” Archbishop-Elect Cupich said of learning he’d been chose by Pope Francis. “I said, ‘I’ve never said no to the church. Yes, I’ll do it.'”
When asked how long it took for the appointment to set in, he said, “It’s still sinking.”
Chosen by Pope Francis, the Vatican made the official announcement earlier from Rome . Cupich will be installed as archbishop during a special Mass on November 18. Until then, George remains cardinal, though without administrative power.
This will be the first time in the history of the Chicago Archdiocese that a new leader is appointed while the former is still alive. George, 77, and Cupich, 65, have worked together in the past, and will get a chance to do that again.
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