A 5 a.m. wake-up call from a friend in Rome alerted Cardinal-designate Blase J. Cupich of Chicago to the news that Pope Francis had added his name to the list of church leaders soon to be made cardinals. The previous six archbishops of Chicago received a red hat, but Pope Francis has recently skipped over several archdioceses traditionally led by cardinals. “This pope is a pope of surprises. So I think it wasn’t something I had my heart set on,” he said. But that was not the pope’s only surprise. He named two other U.S. prelates, Joseph W. Tobin of Indianapolis and Kevin J. Farrell, former bishop of Dallas who is now prefect of the newly created Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. Choosing these three shows Pope Francis “values the experience of the church in our country,” the Chicago archbishop said. “Especially the way that we have worked to integrate immigrants into our country.” Cardinal-designate Cupich will receive his red hat along with 16 other new cardinals at a consistory in Rome on Nov. 19.
Cardinal Surprises
Cardinal-designate Blase J. Cupich of Chicago is pictured with St. Peter's Basilica in the background in Rome Oct. 13. The cardinal-designate is one of 17 new cardinals to be created by Pope Francis at a Vatican consistory Nov. 19. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Show Comments (
)
Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
The latest from america
The people of God see the bishop of Rome as a teacher, but they also unquestionably see him as a father.
Since the death of Pope Francis, lists of his possible successors have proliferated on social media and in newspapers. Should you trust them?
A Homily for the Third Sunday of Easter, by Terrance Klein
In a pre-conclave meeting, an Italian cardinal, and backer of Cardinal Parolin as next pope, attacked Pope Francis for opening positions of responsibility in the church to men and women not in holy orders.