Pope Francis Elevates Archbishop Cupich To Rank of Cardinal

CHICAGO, IL — Archbishop Blase Cupich, leader of 2.2 million Chicago-area Catholics as head of the Chicago Archdiocese, will be elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis.

Cupich is one of three Americans who will become cardinals on Nov. 19. The others are Joseph Tobin of Indianapolis and Kevin Farrell of Dallas.

"The news this morning that Pope Francis has named me to the College of Cardinals is both humbling and encouraging," Cupich said in a statement. "The role of cardinal brings new responsibilities, but with your prayers and help, we will continue the task we have begun of renewing the Church in the archdiocese and preparing it to thrive in the decades ahead."

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his wife, Amy Rule extended their congratulations in a statement:

"Amy and I want to congratulate Archbishop Cupich on the great honor of being named a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, and thank him for his continued service to the people of the City of Chicago. In just a short time serving our city he has made a tremendous impact as a voice for the voiceless in the name of inclusion - for those living in poverty and on the margins of society, for immigrants and new Americans, and for children and families across the city and around the world. He is a light of inspiration for all of us, and a blessing to the City of Chicago. I want to thank Pope Francis for his recognition of Archbishop Cupich's leadership, not just in the church but in our society. "

Cupich, 67, was appointed archbishop in September 2014, moving here from a small diocese in Spokane, Washington. Cupich has been outspoken in his advocacy for the poor and is a pragmatic moderate.

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. Cupich holds progressive views on the church's relationships with the LGBT community and also divorced and remarried Catholics.

Cupich and 16 others will be elevated to cardinal, the highest role in the church behind the pope, in a consistory on Nov. 19 at the Vatican, which coincides with the end of the jubilee Holy Year of Mercy. The pope did not select any cardinals in 2014 or 2015.

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.

In addition to the three Americans, the others include:

• Archbishop Mario Zenari, papal ambassador to Syria
• Arcbishop Dieudonné Nzapalainga of the Central African Republic
• Archbishop Carlos Osoro Sierra of Madrid, Spain
• Archbishop Monsignor Sérgio da Rocha of Brasilia, Brazil
• Archbishop Patrick D’Rozario of Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Archbishop Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo of Mérida, Venezuela
• Archbishop Jozef De Kesel of Malines-Bruxelles, Belgium
• Archbishop Maurice Piat of Port-Louis, Mauritius
• Archbishop Carlos Aguiar Retes of Tlalnepantla, Mexico
• Archbishop John Ribat of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

The honorary cardinals are:

• Emeritus Archbishop Anthony SoterFernandez of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Emeritus Archbishop Renato Corti of Novara, Italy
• Emeritus Bishop Sebastian Koto Khoarai, O.M.I, Mohale’s Hoek, Lesotho
• Father Ernest Simoni, Priest of the Archdiocese of Shkodrë-Pult in Albania

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