Bishop Blase Cupich 'Surprised' To Be Picked As Cardinal George's Successor
(CBS) -- Bishop Blase Cupich said he was "surprised" and "overwhelmed" at being selected to succeed Francis Cardinal George as Archbishop of Chicago at a press conference Saturday morning.
Bishop Blase Cupich will continue to serve as the Bishop of Spokane until he is installed as Archbishop of Chicago on Nov. 18 in a ceremony at Holy Name Cathedral.
"Archbishop Cupich is prepared for his new responsibilities and brings to them a deep faith, quick intelligence, personal commitment and varied pastoral experience," said Cardinal George.
Cupich said he was, "quite overwhelmed and very surprised," when he got the news 10 days ago that he would be the new Archbishop of Chicago.
Pope Francis' choice for Chicago has been closely watched. It is his first major U.S. appointment and the clearest sign yet of the direction he hopes to steer American church leaders. Cupich said not to think about his appointment as a message.
"I think the Holy Father is a pastoral man. I think that his priority is not to send a message but to send a bishop and that is what he is sending here, someone to serve the needs of the people," he said.
Cupich, 65, is from Omaha, Neb. and was ordained there in 1975, according to the Spokane Diocese website. He was installed as the Bishop of Spokane in September 2010.
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When asked about the Church's sex abuse scandal, Bishop Cupich said progress has been made and pointed to Cardinal George as an important factor in implementing a zero tolerance policy.
"He was the one who made it happen in the discussions in Rome. He is the one who pressed for it more than anybody against some formidable opposition," Bishop Cupich said.
The Survivors Network Of Those Abused By Priests or "SNAP" is speaking out against the selection. They released a statement saying in part: "We hope that Chicago's next Catholic Archbishop will do more to prevent future clergy sex crimes and cover-ups. But we're not optimistic."
Friday, the Spokesman Review reported that more than 200 victims have come forward in Spokane.
SNAP leader Karen Bochte said if the new archbishop wants to show he is sincere following his Nov. 18 installation, he should immediately suspend any priest or church worker accused of sexual improprieties, visit parishes in which documented abuse has occurred and release Archdiocesan files on abuse allegations.
Cardinal George said he was happy to get the chance to meet his successor.
"There are dimensions to being archbishop that are unique and it's a post that only one person holds and so if you can profit from someone's experience to help him profit then it should be good for the people of God," Cardinal George said.
Cardinal George said he will be in communication with Bishop Cupich in the lead up to the transition and will be available to him after succeeding him.
He retains the ability to serve on papal commissions until the age of 80. He says he would like to get to know Pope Francis better. He remains under experimental treatment for his kidney cancer at the University of Chicago Hospitals.
The Archdiocese of Chicago serves 2.2 million parishioners and is the third-largest diocese in the country.
