Cardinal George's successor to be chosen in fall

The Archdiocese of Chicago says a successor to ailing Cardinal Francis George should be chosen this fall.

The archdiocese put out a statement Thursday. It says that Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, papal nuncio to the United States, has informed George that he has started the consulting process to identify the cardinal's successor.

The archdiocese says the process is expected to be completed in late fall.

The 77-year-old George has recently undergone chemotherapy for a recurrence of cancer near his right kidney. He was hospitalized earlier this year and his doctors advised him to skip a trip to Rome last month for the canonizations of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II.

George is the spiritual leader of the Chicago area's more than 2 million Roman Catholics.