Cardinal Cupich holds first Chicago Mass since elevation

CHICAGO (WLS) -- In his first Mass since being elevated to a cardinal, Blase Cupich told congregants that more needs to be done to stop Chicago's violence.

Adorned in his brand new red cap, Cupich returned to the altar of St. Agnes of Bohemia in the city's Little Village neighborhood. Just a week ago, he knelt before Pope Francis at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome to accept his elevation to the Catholic church's elite college of cardinals.

"I don't consider it so much an honor as a new responsibility," Cupich sad.

As part of his new responsibility, Cardinal Cupich has said he'd like to help heal crime-torn neighborhoods like Little Village.

"They have so many struggles and fears and knew that I supported them so I wanted to be here for that," Cupich said.

At the congregation, Cardinal Cupich is much-loved.

"He's done an excellent job. We're very proud of him. Especially the people in the little village community. We're just so proud of him," said parishioner Maria Hernandez.

One of Cupich's challenges will also be to keep young Catholics engaged in Chicago's largest religious community as it faces financial setbacks and changes.