Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich was awarded one of the Roman Catholic Church’s most prestigious titles next to the papacy Sunday, when Pope Francis announced in St. Peter’s Square that he will elevate Chicago’s church leader to the rank of cardinal.
Cupich will receive his red hat in Rome Nov. 19, the day before the church’s Year of Mercy ends. The elevation means he will have a vote in future papal elections.
Pope Francis elevated Cupich and 16 other churchmen to the rank of cardinal, including two others from the U.S. — Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin and Dallas Bishop Kevin Farrell.
Though this is the first time Francis has named American cardinals, it was no surprise to some that Cupich’s name was on the list unveiled Sunday. Chicago’s last six archbishops were named cardinals and Cupich’s star has been on the rise ever since he leapt to the third largest U.S. archdiocese from the diocese of Spokane, Wash. just two years ago.
Last year, Francis handpicked Cupich to participate in a worldwide meeting of bishops and cardinals to discuss how to make the church’s teachings on marriage, contraception, divorce and homosexuality relevant to contemporary Catholic families.
Then in July, Francis named Cupich to the influential Congregation for Bishops, a Vatican panel that helps vet bishop candidates around the world. At the time, experts said Cupich’s appointment indicated the pope’s desire to have a key pastoral voice involved in the selection of U.S. church leaders and signaled he was one step closer to becoming a cardinal.
“I am humbled by the Holy Father’s trust and confidence in me,” Cupich said in a statement about that post in July.
Cupich’s elevation to cardinal will not change his role as archbishop of Chicago, a title he has held since his installation in November 2014. He will continue to oversee a massive overhaul of 351 parishes and 229 schools.
Archbishop George Mundelein was the first Chicago prelate elevated to cardinal in 1924, eight years after he had been installed here. His successor, Samuel Stritch, served for six years before getting his red hat. But Albert Meyer, John Cody, Joseph Bernardin, Francis George and now Cupich were elevated within two years of their arrival in Chicago.
