Next Chicago archbishop arrives in new hometown
The next archbishop of Chicago arrived Thursday in his new hometown with little fanfare and wheeling his own carry-on bag.
“Someone asked me on the plane if I was coming home, and I said 'Yes, definitely I am.' So, that's how I feel today as I enter the city,” Archbishop-designate Blase Cupich said, according to ABC 7 Chicago.
Cupich arrived at Chicago's O'Hare Airport from Baltimore, where he was attending a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, ABC 7 said.
Minutes after getting off the plane, Cupich held a wide-ranging news conference. He was asked why one priest, Father Daniel McCormack, was not included in last week's release of priest sex abuse files, ABC 7 reported.
“I'm going to have to get up to speed on what that is all about. I do favor transparency, and I can tell you from talking to the cardinal, he does as well,” Cupich said.
Cupich, 65, will have a few days to spend time with his large extended family, many of whom are flying in from his native Omaha this weekend, ABC 7 said.
An evening prayer service is scheduled Monday at Holy Name Cathedral. He will be speaking at that service, which is expected to be attended by priests and civic leaders, as well as Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Gov. Pat Quinn, ABC 7 said.
Cupich said Mayor Rahm Emanuel has planned a “small” reception for him next week for 300 people, The Associated Press reported. He joked that 300 “is small in Chicago.”
The following day, the installation Mass will be held at Holy Name and will be attended by cardinals and bishops from around the country.
“Chicago has been blessed by wonderful leaders for many generations, both in the church and in the civic order, and I'm just honored to be a part of that and have a good representation of the leadership that evening,” Cupich said.
Cupich left O'Hare to meet with Cardinal Francis George, ABC 7 said. Cupich said he will stay at the cardinal's mansion in the Gold Coast until next week's installation. Afterward, his permanent residence will be at the rectory at Holy Name.
He most recently served as bishop of Spokane, Washington. He's taking over one of the nation's biggest dioceses with 2.2 million parishioners.