Francis Cardinal George, Chicago Archbishop Emeritus, dead after cancer battle
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Francis Eugene Cardinal George, Archbishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, died at his residence at 10:45 a.m. Friday after a long battle with cancer. He was 78.
"A man of peace, tenacity, and courage has been called home," said Archbishop Blase Cupich at Holy Name Cathedral in the Gold Coast Friday afternoon. "Let us heed his example and be a little more brave, a little more steadfast and a lot more loving. This is the surest way to honor his life and celebrate his return to the presence of God."
Priests were first informed of his death by the Chicago Archdiocese.
"Saddened to learn of the death of Cardinal Francis E. George, Archbishop Emeritus of Chicago, I offer heartfelt condolences to you and to the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese. With gratitude for Cardinal George's witness of consecrated life as an Oblate of Mary Immaculate, his service to the Church's educational apostolate and his years of episcopal ministry in the Churches of Yakima, Portland and Chicago, I join you in commending the soul of this wise and gentle pastor to the merciful love of God our heavenly Father. To all who mourn the late Cardinal in the sure hope of the Resurrection, I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of consolation and peace in the Lord," Pope Francis said in a telegram to Cupich.
FULL DETAILS: Cardinal George Services Schedule
The Archdiocese announced services for Cardinal George will be held next week at Holy Name Cathedral.
Public visitations will be held on:
- Tuesday, April 21 from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.; 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 22 from 9 p.m. to Thursday, April 23 at 7:30 a.m.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 12 p.m. on Thursday, April 23 with attendance by ticket only. A 7:30 a.m. prayer service on Thursday will be open to the public.
Immediately following the Funeral Mass, the Committal Service will take place at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, the Archdiocese said.
PHOTOS: A look back at the life of Chicago's Francis Cardinal George
Inside Holy Name Cathedral, the long-time leader of Chicago's Catholics is in the prayers of parishioners.
"He's done so much for Chicago and the Catholic community," said Mike Moehlenhof. "This is such a hard loss, and we're really going to miss him."
"On a more personal note, I've been blessed to sit in his yard and dine on his table," said Alan Roche, "A giant of a man in a small little body. He was all about being present, being led by the spirit, held no grudges, a wonderful man."
Father Peter Wojcik says he visited the cardinal two weeks ago.
"He was very much aware that the moment was coming, that the suffering was coming. He felt the suffering. He didn't enjoy it whatsoever. He was very vocal about it, about saying that," he said. "At the same time, at one point, he took my hand and said, 'Peter, I'm ready.'"
VIDEO: Archbishop Cupich announces Cardinal George's death
The first Archbishop of Chicago to actually come from Chicago, Cardinal George was born on January 16, 1937 and grew up in St. Pascal's parish on the city's Northwest Side. He survived polio at the age of 13. He didn't attend seminary in Chicago. Instead, he attended St. Henry Preparatory Seminary in Belleville, Illinois, then decided to join a Catholic religious order, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in August of 1957. He studied theology in Ottawa, Canada and was ordained a priest at St. Pascal's Church on December 21, 1963.
"I never thought I would be the Archbishop or a Bishop at all, because when I was ordained, there were no Bishops from religious orders, so I never thought of that as a possibility at all. I thought I'd probably serve men who would serve the poor," Cardinal George told Eyewitness News Anchor Alan Krashesky in 2013.
But in May of 1997, he was installed as the eighth Archbishop of Chicago. Pope John Paul II had previously appointed him Bishop of Yakima, Washington in 1990 and Archbishop of Portland in 1996. In January of 1998, Pope John Paul II announced Archbishop George's elevation to the College of Cardinals. At the Consistory in Rome that February, he was assigned San Bartolomeo all'Isola in Rome as his titular church.
"He pursued an overfull schedule, always choosing the church over his own comfort and the people over his own needs," Cupich said.
Cardinal George became a Roman Catholic leader both internationally and here in the United States. From 2007 to 2010, he was President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, after serving as Vice-President from 2004-2007.
Cardinal George's style in Chicago was one of a teacher, who could weave into conversation a point from the Council of Trent in the 1500s. But he was also regarded as a pastor who was greatly concerned about defending the church and what he saw as secular influence and government interference.
Asked by Eyewitness News anchor Alan Krashesky, if there was anything he wanted to do-over, the cardinal replied it would be the response to the sexual abuse crisis, including the case of now former priest Daniel McCormack - who abused children after the Chicago Archdiocese said it took steps to prevent that very crime.
"Your mistakes haunt you, sometimes," Cardinal George told Krashesky in 2013. "I wish this hadn't happened, wish that hadn't happened and I hope I've learned from them," he continued.
Yet, even as his successor was taking the helm of the Chicago Archdiocese, Archbishop Blase Cupich made sure the cardinal received credit for laying the foundation against clerical sexual abuse.
"We would not have had zero tolerance when it comes to child protection, if it were not for this man here," said Archbishop Cupich at his appointment announcement, referring to Cardinal George. "He was the one who made it happen," he continued.
Cardinal George was initially diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2006. In 2012, cancer returned to his kidney and liver. After showing signs of progress, the cancer returned more aggressively in the spring of 2014. Cardinal George even tried experimental cancer therapy when traditional chemotherapy didn't do the job, however that experimental therapy was not successful. In January, he told ABC7 that doctors had "run out of tricks" for him.
Cardinal George's wish for retirement became reality on November 18, 2014. He became the first Archbishop of Chicago not to die while serving as leader of the Archdiocese and he had the historic opportunity to collaborate with his successor. The cardinal hoped to serve as a mentor, passing along his knowledge and the reasoning behind more than 17 years of decisions.
At Archbishop Cupich's installation mass, the new Archbishop thanked Cardinal George, saying, "How deeply grateful we are for your leadership, your witness to the gospel, and the pride you have brought to the city and the Archdiocese!"
In his last mass celebrated as Archbishop, Cardinal George spoke about what he hoped would be his legacy. "In short, you are my legacy," he told those gathered in the pews of Holy Name Cathedral. "The people of the Archdiocese are what I will point to when the Lord asks me, 'what have you done with my gift to you?'"
