Archbishop Blase Cupich of Chicago Elevated to Cardinal at St. Peter's Basilica

Chicago's archbishop Blase Cupich was elevated to the rank of cardinal during a service at St. Peter's Basilica in The Vatican on Saturday.

Cupich knelt before Pope Francis at the service, who placed a four-cornered silk red biretta upon his head and a gold ring upon his right hand, signifying the elevation, reports the Chicago Tribune. The title of cardinal is the most prestigious in the church after the papacy.

• See the full text of the Pope's homily here.

Cupich is one of three Americans to cardinals on Nov. 19. The others are Joseph Tobin of Indianapolis and Kevin Farrell of Dallas. Cupich, along with 16 others, were elevated to the rank of cardinal.

Born in Omaha, NE, to Blase and Mary Cupich on March 19, 1949, Cupich is the third of nine children, with five sisters and three brothers. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1975, where he was pastor of two large suburban parishes. He rose through the ranks, becoming bishop of Rapid City, SD in 1998, and appointed the sixth bishop of Spokane, WA in 2010.

In July, Pope Francis announced the appointment of Archbishop Blase Cupich to a “kingmaker” role on the Vatican’s Congregation of Bishops, which will decide the next generation of bishops in the United States and around the world.

The Congregation for Bishops is composed of roughly 30 senior prelates from around the world. The panel submits recommendations for new bishops’ appointments to the pope. The Congregation for Bishops is considered among the two or three most influential departments in the Vatican.

As cardinal, Cupich will have a vote in future papal elections.

Of the 17, 13 of the men are under the age of 80 and will be eligible to vote for the next pope, according to the Vatican. The other four will be "honorary" cardinals.

Lorriane Swanson contributed to this report.

Photo: Chicago Archbishop Blase J. Cupich | Archdiocese of Chicago