Chicagoans travel to Rome to see Cupich elevated to cardinal

ROME (WLS) -- Several hundred Chicagoans headed to Rome Tuesday for Archbishop Blase Cupich's elevation to cardinal.

Pope Francis will elevate Cupich to cardinal this Saturday at the Vatican. More than 250 Chicagoans joined in the official pilgrimage to Rome. Many of them left on flights Tuesday.

Cupich tweeted a photo Tuesday of a Chicago Cubs hat he gave the pope last week, in celebration of the team's first World Series victory in more than a century.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner will also be at the weekend "red hat" ceremony, where Archbishop Cupich will join the Roman Catholic Church's highest ranks - the group of men who could ultimately pick a new pope.

Alan Krashesky will be in Rome with extensive coverage of the elevation ceremony. Look for his reports starting Thursday at 10 p.m.