Archbishop Blase Cupich receives pallium at ceremony

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago's Archbishop Blase Cupich formally received his pallium during a ceremony at the city's Holy Name Cathedral Sunday.

To Catholics, it's a symbol of unity with the pope. To the archbishop, it's a symbol of Chicago's special connection to the church.

The cathedral on the city's North Side was packed for a special Mass where Pope Francis' representative in the United States placed the pallium on Archbishop Cupich's shoulders.

MORE: Archbishop Cupich full Sunday homily (pdf)

A pallium is a wool, scarf-like garment worn by archbishops to signify their office.

"I'm in this here together with everyone else in the archdiocese and when I take this upon my shoulders I do so happily and with great coincidence in the city of big shoulders," Cupich said.

Even though Archbishop Cupich first received the pallium from Pope Francis earlier this summer, the pope changed tradition and Archbishop Cupich didn't actually put it on until Sunday so that more Chicagoans could be involved in the celebration.

"It was really cool to have it in the city, and to be involved, especially being able to sing for such a neat thing," said choir member Elizabeth Guzik.

"It was great that he could bring this ceremony back to Chicago," said Sam Gutierrez, Diocese of Joliet. "This was the first time being here and I think that really made it much more of a community aspect."

For suburban pilgrims who traveled on the pallium pilgrimage to Rome, Sunday brought the trip full circle.

Archbishop Cupich will next see Pope Francis next month when the pope travels to Washington, DC, as part of his first United States trip.