Latest news with #ChicagoArchdiocese
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Cupich celebrates 50 years as a priest. ‘Every day was an opportunity to live out my priesthood.'
In one of the most exhilarating moments in his half century as a priest, Cardinal Blase Cupich watched in awe from an adjacent balcony in May as newly-elected Chicago native Pope Leo XIV gave his first address to the world on the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, While the experience was unprecedented, the head of the Chicago Archdiocese says he has felt that same spirit of joy and elation laced throughout his five-decade career, ever since he was ordained Aug. 16, 1975. 'I have to say that I brought the same excitement of that day to every day that I've been a priest,' he told the Tribune during a recent interview. 'I've always looked for moments in which being a priest could be a benefit to other people.' Cupich will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his ordination with a golden jubilee Mass at 5:15 p.m. Saturday at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. The service will be livestreamed for those who can't attend in person. Despite major challenges facing the global Catholic Church — from financial woes to ongoing fallout from the church sex abuse crisis — Cupich says his love for pastoring and service hasn't waned since his ordination five decades ago. 'Whether I was teaching kids in high school my first years after I was ordained or serving in the Vatican embassy in Washington, D.C., or being the pastor of a parish, and then of course being named bishop, I always felt that every day was an opportunity to live out my priesthood,' he added. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1949, the grandson of Croatian immigrants believes his roots helped shape his ministry and leadership, particularly in an ethnically and racially diverse part of the country such as Chicago, where he was installed as archbishop in 2014. At the helm of the third-largest Catholic archdiocese in the country, he serves roughly 2 million Catholics at 216 parishes. Cupich, the third of nine children in a devoutly Catholic home, recalled his grandparents 'tried as immigrants to come here and start a life and family that would become more prosperous than where they came from.' 'And I think that is the story of all immigrants,' the 76-year-old cardinal said. 'That's why I'm so very focused on immigrants' rights, not only to protect their dignity but also to make sure that the country doesn't forget that we've been enriched by immigration.' Often deemed more a pastoral leader and less authoritarian in style than his predecessor, the late Cardinal Francis George, Cupich has been criticized by a more conservative faction of Catholics for his focus on issues such as gun violence and poverty, as opposed to more politically right-of-center causes such as abortion opposition. Illinois abortion opponents last year condemned Cupich for giving the invocation on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, an event that included pro-reproductive rights organizations, including Planned Parenthood. Yet the archbishop of Chicago says that he's championed the dignity and sanctity of human life throughout his ministry, adding that 'the full gamut of issues that deal with respect for life have always been a center of my attention.' 'It may be that people don't see that gun violence and poverty and homelessness and war and peace are necessarily pro-life. I would disagree with that,' he said. 'I think that the Holy See, the teachings of the church and the catechism and the works done by (Pope) John Paul II all the way to Pope Leo are very clear: We have to have a consistent ethic of life.' In 2016, Cupich's influence over the international church expanded when Pope Francis elevated him to cardinal at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. During the ceremony, he received the iconic red hat, also known as a biretta, which symbolizes a cardinal's willingness to shed blood in service of the church. The service was attended by then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the governor at the time, Bruce Rauner, as well as members of Cupich's family. 'I told myself, as I went up to the pope to receive the red biretta, that I was going to just drink in the moment and enjoy it as much as I could and be present to the situation. And not be distracted by anything else,' Cupich recalled. 'It was a proud moment, not just for me, but I think for Chicago. Chicago has had a special place in the life of the church and I think that was recognized on that occasion.' As cardinal, Cupich took part in the papal conclave's May historic election of Pope Leo, the first American-born leader of the world's estimated 1.4 billion Catholics, who grew up in south suburban Dolton. During Pope Leo's first three months, Cupich has seen a renewed spirit among local Catholics as well as excitement across the area among folks of all faiths and backgrounds that a Chicago native was named pontiff. It's like nothing the archbishop has seen in his 50 years of service since ordination as a priest. 'There's a new pride that I'm seeing in having the pope come from Chicago, for people to know that Chicago produced a pope,' he added. 'So there is a new kind of energy that I'm seeing.'
CBS News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Cardinal Blase Cupich celebrates 50th anniversary of Catholic ministry
Cardinal Blase Cupich is marking 50 years in the Catholic Church, including more than a decade as the leader of the Chicago Archdiocese. According to church law, Cupich had to submit his resignation when he turned 75, and he did that last year, but he's not going anywhere just yet. He'll remain in place, until Pope Leo XIV decides to replace him. Cupich said one thing from his 50 years in the Catholic Church he'll never forget is seeing his friend, Robert Prevost, be elected pontiff and becoming Pope Leo XIV in June. "I think it was standing on the balcony when the pope was announced, and when he came out … because some of the cardinals shoved me up to the front, because they, you know, being from Chicago and the pope was in the next balcony over. And to look over that crowd, and it was thrilling, the gathering of all the people that were there; and then to hear him speak," Cupich said. "My friend, Robert Prevost, speaking to the crowd in perfect Italian and then Spanish, I think that that is something I'll never forget, looking out over that basilica." Given Cupich's personal relationship with the pope, does he think there's a chance he might not be in a hurry to replace him as cardinal in Chicago? "I don't want to trade on that, but I think that he seems agree with me on a number of things. We've been friends for a good decade and then worked together in the last six years. So, he knows my mind and I know his. So, I think we're suited for each other in a very good way," he said. Is Cupich ready to step aside? "Yeah. You know, I would step aside when I do, when I'm asked to do that, but I'm not going to resign from the priesthood. I'm going to continue to do work," he said. "I started off teaching high school kids, and I liked that, and so if the new archbishop comes in, and there is an opening in a high school that he'd like me to be chaplain of or do some teaching at the college level, which I've done before, I'd be happy to do that." Cupich recently traveled to Nagasaki, Japan, to mark the anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb in 1945. The cardinal made some poignant comments about the church's teachings on war and the "just war" theory, saying that historians tell us when President Harry Truman decided to use the atomic bomb, he did not find it a tough decision. What was the point that message? "I think that it was clear that, first of all, people – even those who invented this weapon – didn't know the catastrophic effects that it would have, because it had not been tested on people before," he said. "We have to make sure that we never have another nuclear explosion on this planet again; that we don't kid ourselves that we have security simply because we have atomic weapons." How did Cupich think his message in Nagasaki translated, and what did he want people to take away from that given the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza? "War is always a failure for humanity. So we have to look for a way in which we preempt all of that by making sure that we sit down and listen to each other and talk to each other before we begin to rearm. And that, I fear, right now is happening. We're rearming across the world," he said. Does Cupich worry that there could be another nuclear weapon used? "I think so, when you have nine countries that have them. We had this recent flareup between Pakistan and India. Both of them are nuclear nations, and I think anything's possible," he said.
News.com.au
19-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Auction of Pope Leo XIV's childhood Chicago home extended
The highly-publicised auction of Pope Leo XIV's childhood home has been extended by a month — after it was revealed the Chicago suburb where he was raised was launching a bid to acquire the humble dwelling so it can be preserved as a local landmark. Pope Leo, who was born Robert Francis Prevost, spent several years living in a small three-bedroom, three-bathroom dwelling in Dolton, Illinois. His father, Louis Prevost, sold the property in 1996, according to records, after which it was sold on two other occasions. According to Realtor, the current owner, property flipper Pawel Radzik, acquired the three-bedroom, three-bathroom abode in March 2024 for $US66,000 ($A101,553) and had initially planned to renovate it, then sell it off — until that is, one of its former residents was chosen to succeed the late Pope Francis during the conclave in May. At the time, the property was on the market for just $US199,900 ($A307,605); however, it was swiftly delisted just hours after Pope Leo's new historical role was revealed. It was later revealed the home was being put up for auction via Paramount Realty USA — with listing agent Steve Budzik noting the decision to sell the property to the highest bidder came after his team struggled to settle on an appropriate listing price for an abode with such historical significance. However, the home's journey took another twist when the Village of Dolton, with support from the Chicago Archdiocese, announced plans to acquire the house, either by buying it, or by using eminent domain to take over ownership. 'The Village of Dolton intends to purchase this home either through direct purchase or through their eminent domain power,' Odelson wrote in a letter sent to Paramount Realty USA, according to the New York Times. 'The Village intends to work with the Chicago Archdiocese and other agencies to allow the home to be viewed and visited by the public as a historic site.' Odelson added discussions with the seller were underway, saying the Village of Dolton and the local archdiocese would prefer not to rely on eminent domain for the acquisition of the home because it would garner too much media attention. '[It] keeps the home in the news and not the light that the village or the church want,' he said. 'We don't want it to be a controversy; we want it to be a sacred site.' Initially, the auction of the property was due to close on June 18. However, an update to the listing has now extended the bidding process to July 17, with Budzik explaining to via email this was done in order to 'allow more time for bidders to review, perform due diligence, and bid'. A spokesperson for Paramount Realty USA added the extended auction window will also give bidders an opportunity to 'tour the property' if they wish. Neither Budzik nor Paramount Realty USA commented on whether negotiations with the Village of Dolton had any bearing on the decision to extend the auction. After Dolton announced its plans to acquire the home, Budzik told his client was very much open to working with its representatives, as well as the Chicago Archdiocese, stating in an email: 'The seller is open to the potential opportunity of working with the Village of Dolton to purchase the property at fair market value. 'We also understand that the Chicago Archdiocese could be involved in making this a historical landmark, which is great news for the seller. We would love to come to a mutually beneficial agreement in the coming days.' To make matters more complicated, CBS News reported on June 16 a motion had been filed seeking a preliminary injunction to block the Village of Dolton from using taxpayer money in order to buy Pope Leo's childhood home. This motion is understood to have been filed as part of an ongoing wrongful termination lawsuit filed against Dolton by a former employee, Lavell Redmond, who claimed in a 2022 filing that his employers had refused to discuss terms of a settlement because the village did not have sufficient funds. In his June 15 motion, Redmond's lawyers claimed Dolton is in 'severe financial distress' and made several allegations of financial mismanagement, unresolved legal obligations, and a potential misuse of taxpayer funds. Matthew R. Custardo, the lawyer who filed the motion, stated to WGN9 the injunction was being sought in order to stop 'hypocrisy,' insisting the injunction would in no way hinder the sale of the home but rather prevent local politicians from using taxpayer funds in order to take it over. 'This isn't about stopping history. It's about stopping hypocrisy,' he said. 'You can't cry broke in court and then try to spend taxpayer funds on non-essential acquisitions.' While bids for the property start at $US250,000 ($A385,148), it is widely predicted the home could sell for much more, although experts have hesitated to put a specific value on the property in the weeks since the auction was announced. The online auction house also provides a copy of the original purchase deed from the 1949 sale of the home to Pope Leo's father, Louis, which is dated March 3 of that year.
CBS News
17-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Compromise plan to landmark St. Adalbert Church advances, but some advocates aren't happy
The plan to grant landmark status to a historic Pilsen church moved forward on Tuesday, but some of the people fighting to protect the long-shuttered St. Adalbert Catholic Church said they feel slighted. The City Council Zoning Committee on Tuesday approved a compromise plan that would landmark only the main church building, not the rectory, school, and convent buildings as originally planned. "It's bittersweet. It's of course about the church. We need to protect the church. It all revolves around the church, but just landmarking the church is a very shortsighted plan," said Julie Sawicki, president of the Society of St. Adalbert, a group fighting for the church to reopen. The vote, if given final approval by the full City Council, would mean only St. Adalbert's century-old cathedral, built by Polish immigrants, would be granted landmark status. The rectory, school, and convent buildings would not be protected. Preservation Chicago, which has listed St. Adalbert among the city's most endangered historic buildings for years, backed the compromise landmark plan, but Sawicki said her group still wants the entire campus to be landmarked. "[Preservation Chicago] executive director Ward Miller said to me, 'Don't worry, Julie, 99.9% of the time, these buildings are landmarked,' and I said, 'We still have to plan for the .01 percent,' and sure enough that .01% is what's happening, or what happened today," she said. The Chicago Archdiocese closed the church in 2019, and has a potential buyer for the church - The People Church in Humboldt Park, which said, "We recognize that this is not just a building—it is a sacred space with a rich and profound history. Our hope is to honor that legacy by restoring it as a place of worship, community, and purpose, serving both Chicago and the Pilsen neighborhood." Sawicki and her supporters would like to keep the church as a shine to St. Adalbert, with a 40-room bed-and-breakfast-style facility for potential tourists visiting Chicago for Pope Leo XIV tours. "We ought to be preparing for Catholic tourism, and this is one way, by allowing our plan to move forward," she said. The full City Council is expected to vote on the compromise landmark plan on Wednesday. Sawicki said her group can still try to get landmark status for the three additional structures at a later date. The Chicago Archdiocese has fought against landmarking in the past, but did not immediately respond to a request for comment on if it supports the compromise the Zoning Committee approved on Tuesday.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chicago's Pope Leo celebration sold out quickly — drawing second market frenzy
CHICAGO - Tickets for the Chicago Archdiocese's celebration of Pope Leo XIV at Rate Field on June 14 sold out quickly on Friday, sparking a surge in resales on the secondary market. The Brief Tickets for the Chicago Archdiocese's celebration of Pope Leo XIV at Rate Field on June 14 sold out quickly on Friday. Hundreds of tickets purchased for $5 were being resold on sites like StubHub for hundreds of dollars or more. The event will feature a video presentation about the Pope's Chicago roots, speakers from Cardinal Robert Prevost's time in the city, and a recorded greeting from the Pope himself. What we know Tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. for $5 each, and by mid-afternoon only upper deck seats remained. By 10 p.m. on Friday, all tickets available on Ticketmaster were sold out. "We sold over 10,000 tickets in the first half hour," said Chicago White Sox senior vice president Christine O'Reilly. "I think it's amazing, and it goes to show that the Pope is a pope for all people and people want to be part of this." The event, produced by the Archdiocese of Chicago, will feature a video presentation about the Pope's Chicago roots, speakers from Cardinal Robert Prevost's time in the city, and a recorded greeting from the Pope himself. "What it is going to be is an insight into who the Holy Father is," said Archdiocese Vicar General Bishop Larry Sullivan. "It's a way for us to really learn about his South Side roots, to learn about him, and for us to be able to relate to him." Sullivan noted that Rate Field was chosen as the venue because the Pope is a lifelong White Sox fan and attended the 2005 World Series. What's next As for logistics, O'Reilly said all the buzz about the event means the show must go on. "We're making plans. Obviously, it's two weeks away, so we've got our work cut out for us. The altar will be set up on a stage on the field, with some seating on the field and in the stands. We're going to open the gates at 12:30 that day." Meanwhile, hundreds of tickets purchased for $5 were being resold on sites like StubHub for hundreds of dollars or more. "I think that's telling us that there's a great buzz, that this is a historic moment and people want to be part of something special," Sullivan said.
