Nov. 19--Blase Cupich took religious and legal possession of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago on Tuesday, pledging before a Cook County judge and later priests, bishops and parishioners that he will dutifully shepherd the nation's third-largest archdiocese.
"I do accept the pastoral care of the people of Chicago," Cupich declared at Holy Name Cathedral.
Chicago's 2.2 million Catholics have a new archbishop after Cupich took his seat in the teaching chair Tuesday afternoon during an elaborate and symbolic ceremony at Holy Name Cathedral.
During his homily Tuesday, Cupich alternated between humor and seriousness and he tackled the weight of expectation for his tenure in Chicago. He spoke of the church's role with the young on multiple fronts: the continuing fallout of the clergy sex-abuse scandal and maintaining the relevance of religion in their lives.
"We face in our day the formidable task of passing on the faith to the next generation, of evangelizing a modern and sometimes skeptical culture, not to mention inspiring young people to serve the church ..." he said. "It all seems so daunting, as daunting as walking on water."
Tuesday's installation got underway at 2 p.m., when Apostolic Nuncio Carlo Maria Vigano, the Vatican's envoy to the U.S., read a translation of the apostolic mandate from Pope Francis that names Cupich archbishop.
Cupich chose to take the helm of the archdiocese Tuesday, the feast day celebrating the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and Paul, as a nod to his Croatian grandparents. More than a century ago, they solicited donations to build what became his childhood parish, Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Omaha, Neb.
Cupich said Tuesday that the date not only honored his own immigrant family, it gave him a chance to recognize all immigrants. He pointed out that the day also honored St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, "someone the Native People honored with the name Woman Who Prays Always."
"She reminds us of the extraordinary contribution women religious have made and continue to make to the church and society. I intend to honor and give thanks for all these people today, especially for family and immigrants, Native Americans and religious sisters -- all of whom have shaped so much of our faith, our lives and our Church ministries," he said.
mbrachear@tribpub.com
