Archbishop Cupich prepares for Pope Francis visit

VATICAN CITY (WLS) -- Chicago's new archbishop, Blase Cupich, is in Rome Friday night preparing for his historic meeting with Pope Francis.

ABC7 Eyewitness News anchor Alan Krashesky is the only Chicago television reporter covering the event and was granted an exclusive interview with the archbishop.

If Archbishop of Chicago was a "regular" job, you would say this is the first meeting with the new boss. The choice of Archbishop Cupich in Chicago was the first major decision that Pope Francis made regarding the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church in America, which makes it even more special for Chicagoans who went to Rome to witness the historic meeting.

Archbishop Cupich is in Rome to meet Pope Francis, the man who chose him to be the spiritual leader for Chicago's Catholics.

"In terms of meeting with the Holy Father, I'm looking forward to meeting with him, he's a great man," Archbishop Cupich said. "You have to realize, there are 44, 42 archbishops. It's a bumper crop this year."

Climbing off the bus, and a little big jet-lagged after their nine-hour overnight flight to Rome, a group of Chicagoans are thrilled to be in the Eternal City.

"I think it's a great thing to be over here and celebrate this transition where we're having Archbishop Cupich recognized formally," said Tim Rivelli, Catholic Charities board member. "So it's exciting to be here with pilgrimage, so that's why I came."

This is more than just a pleasure trip. As the number of tourists around St. Peter's Square grows in the summer season, some are more adventurous, climbing to the top of the Basilica's dome.

The Chicagoans on this pilgrimage will witness history, seeing Archbishop Cupich and Pope Francis together for the very first time.

"It's going to be very exciting and I think it's the whole history, the whole tradition and I think with the archbishop making himself available to us," said Sr. Mary Paul McCaughey, former Catholic Schools superintendent.

Like Cardinal George before him, Archbishop Cupich will receive a pallium from the pope, a woolen mantle worn around the collar as a symbol of the archbishop's unity with the pope and authority to lead Chicago Catholics.

This time however, inside St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis has chosen not to place the pallium on the archbishop's shoulders himself. Instead, the archbishop will first wear his pallium during a separate ceremony, later this summer, in Chicago.

But there is a twist. Pope Francis has never met personally with the man he chose to lead Chicago's Catholics. It's a somewhat curious fact that makes the upcoming meeting even more intriguing to a couple from LaGrange, talking over coffee at a cafe outside Vatican City.

"He must have a good track record to do it sight unseen basically and still get the job," said Mark Ward.

"What an opportunity to explore Rome with this group. Something I couldn't pass up," said Susan Otterbeck.

Check back with ABC7Chicago.com and tune into ABC7 News at 10 p.m. for more on Archbishop's trip to Rome and visit with Pope Francis.