Latest news with #Cupich
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cupich says Pope Leo XIV will champion the environment, immigrants — but doesn't know when he'll visit Chicago
ROME — Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich says Pope Leo XIV will prioritize the environment and needs of immigrants, citing major themes throughout the pontiff's homily during his inaugural Mass on Sunday. The new pope, who hails from Chicago, will also work tirelessly to help end international conflicts, the cardinal said. 'He will continue speaking about how globalization marginalizes people,' Cupich said during an interview Monday with the Tribune at Pontifical North American College, his alma mater. 'Especially if the metric for measuring the success of globalization is economical and financial rather than how does it help people universally flourish. We are going to hear more about that, I'm positive.' But the archbishop of Chicago doesn't know when the Holy Father will return to his hometown for a visit – an appearance many have been clamoring for as the city celebrates its new homegrown pontiff. Vice President JD Vance invited the pope to visit the United States during private meeting Monday and the pontiff could be heard responding 'at some point' in video provided by Vatican media. 'We need to give him some breathing space here,' Cupich said, with a little laugh. 'He's got a lot of things on his plate right now. He has to make that decision.' Only one pope has ever traveled to Chicago: In 1979, Pope John Paul's three-hour Mass in Grant Park attracted anywhere from 500,000 to 1.5 million attendees. While the cardinal said he won't pressure the new pope to make an appearance in Chicago immediately, he pledged that once the pontiff is ready to travel to the United States, 'you can believe that I'm going to be lobbying for Chicago.' 'Then I would put in a bid for him to put Chicago on the itinerary,' Cupich said. The cardinal witnessed the pope's historic installation in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, marking the formal start to the first American-born pontiff's term. Cupich was seated with other cardinals just to the right of the pope on the altar, before a crowd of roughly 100,000 worshippers, including numerous dignitaries and global faith leaders. Pope Leo XIV's homily rebuked 'an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth's resources and marginalizes the poorest,' a position Cupich believes was shaped by the pontiff's life experience, from his roots in the Chicago area to his work as a longtime missionary in Peru. Born Robert Francis Prevost, the 69-year-old pontiff was raised in a devoutly Catholic family in south suburban Dolton. His upbringing in the Chicago area helped form Prevost's leadership style and character, Cupich said. 'He's a man who's not afraid of hard work. Who knows what it means to live in a diverse community,' Cupich said, noting that Mass is celebrated in more than two dozen languages across the Chicago Archdiocese. 'We have this experience and culture that's quite unique. And all of that was part of forming this man.' For roughly 20 years in Peru, Prevost lived and worked with people 'who were in abject poverty' and experienced climate change firsthand, including some of the most ozone-depleted areas in the world in the Andes Mountains, Cupich said. 'So he is going to raise his voice. … That kind of commitment is going to be very strong,' the cardinal predicted. 'Because it's been personally experienced by him.' Themes of peace and unity were also woven through the pope's address, amid an increasingly polarized world where war continues to rage in Gaza and Ukraine. Cupich noted that the new pope met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy immediately after the inaugural Mass and then on Monday received a visit from Vance, signs that the pontiff is already getting to work to help quell international conflict. Both world leaders were present at the pope's installation Sunday. While giving the homily, the pontiff's tone wasn't critical or berating, Cupich said. 'But it was a plea to humanity that, folks, we can do better. We're better than this,' he said. 'We can roll up our sleeves and solve these problems. We don't have to go down this path of ruin with war. With marginalization of people. By ignoring the immigrant.' During his time in Rome, Cupich stopped Saturday at the Basilica of St. Bartholomew on Tiber Island, his titular church. Whenever a new cardinal is named, he's assigned a titular church in Rome to signify his connection to the pope, who also serves as the bishop of Rome. The 10th century basilica was founded by German Emperor Otto III to house the relics of St. Bartholomew. The baroque-style church rests on one of the smallest islands in the world, measuring about 890 feet long and 220 feet wide, connected to the city by two ancient Roman bridges. Cupich took possession of the church in 2016 when he was made a cardinal by Pope Francis; the basilica was formerly the titular church of Cardinal Francis George, who died in 2015. 'The pope not only gave me a whole church, but a whole island,' Cupich said, laughing. The cardinal said the basilica helps him maintain strong ties to Rome and Pope Leo XIV — now the new bishop of Rome — even though Cupich lives and works some 4,000 miles away. 'It's a place where I can call home when I come here,' he said. 'Of course, this church ties me to the city of Rome. I do feel, as a priest of Rome, that (Pope Leo) is my bishop in a special way.' The church also links Chicago to Rome and the pope: The archdiocese has helped fund the church, donations that are commemorated on a sign on one of the basilica's walls. Cupich said he encourages folks from the Chicago area to visit St. Bartholomew when they travel to Rome. The church is cared for by the Community of Sant'Egidio, a Catholic lay association, which includes members in the Chicago area. After Cupich was inducted into the College of Cardinals in 2016, he presided over a vespers service in the church, which was attended by then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, then-Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke and Bruce Rauner, who was governor at the time. The basilica also houses a shrine to modern Christian martyrs from around the world, whose relics line both sides of the church and also fill the crypts below. There's the missal and stole of Archbishop of San Salvador Oscar Romero, who was killed at the altar as he celebrated Mass in 1980. A cross belonging to Sr. Leonella Sgorbati, who was killed in Somalia in 2006. The notebook of Abish Masih, a young boy injured in a terrorist attack at a Catholic church in Lahore, Pakistan, in 2015. 'You're going to see, from around the world, people whose blood was shed for the faith,' Cupich said. 'This church here is a place where we bring home that martyrdom is a current event.' The cardinal intends to return to Chicago later this week, ending his second history-witnessing trip to Rome in May. Earlier this month, Cupich took part in the papal conclave that elected Prevost as pope on May 8, stunning many Catholic scholars and hierarchs who didn't anticipate an American would be named pontiff. The cardinal flew back to Chicago afterward, where much of the city was thrilled with the news of its home-town pope. 'I couldn't get from the plane to the car without having people stop me,' he recalled. 'People kept saying 'job well done.' Thanks for what we did.' The excitement wasn't restricted to Catholics. 'People of all faiths expressed that pride that Chicago produced a pope,' he said. 'This was an opportunity to say 'there's a lot of good that's a part of Chicago.'' Cupich and Prevost had worked together for several years in a Vatican office tasked with vetting worldwide bishop candidates; Pope Francis named Prevost to lead that office in 2023. The new pope is 'a very disciplined man,' Cupich said. 'He's very measured. He's going to do things step by step in an orderly way. He has an organic approach to problem solving,' he added. 'People may be impatient with that because they want quick and easy solutions. But he knows that things have to come in an orderly and progressive way. And he's willing to be patient with that.' The 76-year-old cardinal also called the pontiff 'a young man.' 'This is the first time I know that I'm old,' he said. 'I mean, if you're older than the pope …' When asked if Chicago gets any Catholic fringe benefits or special perks from the church now that the city claims a pope, the cardinal laughed. 'There's no bennies,' he said. 'Maybe a couple more rosaries blessed or something like that.'
Chicago Tribune
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Cupich says Pope Leo XIV will champion the environment, immigrants — but doesn't know when he'll visit Chicago
ROME — Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich says Pope Leo XIV will prioritize the environment and needs of immigrants, citing major themes throughout the pontiff's homily during his inaugural Mass on Sunday. The new pope, who hails from Chicago, will also work tirelessly to help end international conflicts, the cardinal said. 'He will continue speaking about how globalization marginalizes people,' Cupich said during an interview Monday with the Tribune at Pontifical North American College, his alma mater. 'Especially if the metric for measuring the success of globalization is economical and financial rather than how does it help people universally flourish. We are going to hear more about that, I'm positive.' But the archbishop of Chicago doesn't know when the Holy Father will return to his hometown for a visit – an appearance many have been clamoring for as the city celebrates its new homegrown pontiff. Vice President JD Vance invited the pope to visit the United States during a private meeting Monday and the pontiff could be heard responding 'at some point' in video provided by Vatican media. 'We need to give him some breathing space here,' Cupich said, with a little laugh. 'He's got a lot of things on his plate right now. He has to make that decision.' Only one pope has ever traveled to Chicago: In 1979, Pope John Paul II's three-hour Mass in Grant Park attracted anywhere from 500,000 to 1.5 million attendees. While the cardinal said he won't pressure the new pope to make an appearance in Chicago immediately, he pledged that once the pontiff is ready to travel to the United States, 'you can believe that I'm going to be lobbying for Chicago.' 'Then I would put in a bid for him to put Chicago on the itinerary,' Cupich said. The cardinal witnessed the pope's historic installation in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, marking the formal start to the first American-born pontiff's term. Cupich was seated with other cardinals just to the right of the pope on the altar, before a crowd of roughly 100,000 worshippers, including numerous dignitaries and global faith leaders. Pope Leo XIV's homily rebuked 'an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth's resources and marginalizes the poorest,' a position Cupich believes was shaped by the pontiff's life experience, from his roots in the Chicago area to his work as a longtime missionary in Peru. Born Robert Francis Prevost, the 69-year-old pontiff was raised in a devoutly Catholic family in south suburban Dolton. His upbringing in the Chicago area helped form Prevost's leadership style and character, Cupich said. 'He's a man who's not afraid of hard work. Who knows what it means to live in a diverse community,' Cupich said, noting that Mass is celebrated in more than two dozen languages across the Chicago Archdiocese. 'We have this experience and culture that's quite unique. And all of that was part of forming this man.' For roughly 20 years in Peru, Prevost lived and worked with people 'who were in abject poverty' and experienced climate change firsthand, including some of the most ozone-depleted areas in the world in the Andes Mountains, Cupich said. 'So he is going to raise his voice. … That kind of commitment is going to be very strong,' the cardinal predicted. 'Because it's been personally experienced by him.' Themes of peace and unity were also woven through the pope's address, amid an increasingly polarized world where war continues to rage in Gaza and Ukraine. Cupich noted that the new pope met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy immediately after the inaugural Mass and then on Monday received a visit from Vance, signs that the pontiff is already getting to work to help quell international conflict. Both world leaders were present at the pope's installation Sunday. While giving the homily, the pontiff's tone wasn't critical or berating, Cupich said. 'But it was a plea to humanity that, folks, we can do better. We're better than this,' he said. 'We can roll up our sleeves and solve these problems. We don't have to go down this path of ruin with war. With marginalization of people. By ignoring the immigrant.' During his time in Rome, Cupich stopped Saturday at the Basilica of St. Bartholomew on Tiber Island, his titular church. Whenever a new cardinal is named, he's assigned a titular church in Rome to signify his connection to the pope, who also serves as the bishop of Rome. The 10th century basilica was founded by German Emperor Otto III to house the relics of St. Bartholomew. The baroque-style church rests on one of the smallest islands in the world, measuring about 890 feet long and 220 feet wide, connected to the city by two ancient Roman bridges. Cupich took possession of the church in 2016 when he was made a cardinal by Pope Francis; the basilica was formerly the titular church of Cardinal Francis George, who died in 2015. 'The pope not only gave me a whole church, but a whole island,' Cupich said, laughing. The cardinal said the basilica helps him maintain strong ties to Rome and Pope Leo XIV — now the new bishop of Rome — even though Cupich lives and works some 4,000 miles away. 'It's a place where I can call home when I come here,' he said. 'Of course, this church ties me to the city of Rome. I do feel, as a priest of Rome, that (Pope Leo) is my bishop in a special way.' The church also links Chicago to Rome and the pope: The archdiocese has helped fund the church, donations that are commemorated on a sign on one of the basilica's walls. Cupich said he encourages folks from the Chicago area to visit St. Bartholomew when they travel to Rome. The church is cared for by the Community of Sant'Egidio, a Catholic lay association, which includes members in the Chicago area. After Cupich was inducted into the College of Cardinals in 2016, he presided over a vespers service in the church, which was attended by then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, then-Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke and Bruce Rauner, who was governor at the time. The basilica also houses a shrine to modern Christian martyrs from around the world, whose relics line both sides of the church and also fill the crypts below. There's the missal and stole of Archbishop of San Salvador Oscar Romero, who was killed at the altar as he celebrated Mass in 1980. A cross belonging to Sr. Leonella Sgorbati, who was murdered in Somalia in 2006. The notebook of Abish Masih, a young boy injured in a terrorist attack at a Catholic church in Lahore, Pakistan, in 2015. 'You're going to see, from around the world, people whose blood was shed for the faith,' Cupich said. 'This church here is a place where we bring home that martyrdom is a current event.' The cardinal intends to return to Chicago later this week, ending his second history-witnessing trip to Rome in May. Earlier this month, Cupich took part in the papal conclave that elected Prevost as pope on May 8, stunning many Catholic scholars and hierarchs who didn't anticipate an American would be named pontiff. The cardinal flew back to Chicago afterward, where much of the city was thrilled with the news of its home-town pope. 'I couldn't get from the plane to the car without having people stop me,' he recalled. 'People kept saying 'job well done.' Thanks for what we did.' The excitement wasn't restricted to Catholics. 'People of all faiths expressed that pride that Chicago produced a pope,' he said. 'This was an opportunity to say 'there's a lot of good that's a part of Chicago.'' Cupich and Prevost had worked together for several years in a Vatican office tasked with vetting worldwide bishop candidates; Pope Francis named Prevost to lead that office in 2023. The new pope is 'a very disciplined man,' Cupich said. 'He's very measured. He's going to do things step by step in an orderly way. He has an organic approach to problem solving,' he added. 'People may be impatient with that because they want quick and easy solutions. But he knows that things have to come in an orderly and progressive way. And he's willing to be patient with that.' The 76-year-old cardinal also called the pontiff 'a young man.' 'This is the first time I know that I'm old,' he said. 'I mean, if you're older than the pope …' When asked if Chicago gets any Catholic fringe benefits or special perks from the church now that the city claims a pope, the cardinal laughed. 'There's no bennies,' he said. 'Maybe a couple more rosaries blessed or something like that.'
Chicago Tribune
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Cupich says Pope Leo XIV will champion the environment, immigrants – but doesn't know when he'll visit Chicago
ROME — Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich says Pope Leo XIV will prioritize the environment and needs of immigrants, citing major themes throughout the pontiff's homily during his inaugural Mass on Sunday. The new pope, who hails from Chicago, will also work tirelessly to help end international conflicts, the cardinal said. 'He will continue speaking about how globalization marginalizes people,' Cupich said during an interview Monday with the Tribune at Pontifical North American College, his alma mater. 'Especially if the metric for measuring the success of globalization is economical and financial rather than how does it help people universally flourish. We are going to hear more about that, I'm positive.' But the Archbishop of Chicago doesn't know when the Holy Father will return to his hometown for a visit – an appearance many have been clamoring for as the city celebrates its new home-grown pontiff. Vice President JD Vance invited the pope to visit the United States during private meeting Monday and the pontiff could be heard responding 'at some point' in video provided by Vatican media. 'We need to give him some breathing space here,' Cupich said, with a little laugh. 'He's got a lot of things on his plate right now. He has to make that decision.' Only one pope has ever traveled to Chicago: In 1979, Pope John Paul's three-hour Mass in Grant Park attracted anywhere from 500,000 to 1.5 million attendees. While the cardinal said he won't pressure the new pope to make an appearance in Chicago immediately, he pledged that once the pontiff is ready to travel to the United States, 'you can believe that I'm going to be lobbying for Chicago.' 'Then I would put in a bid for him to put Chicago on the itinerary,' Cupich said. The cardinal witnessed the pope's historic installation in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, marking the formal start to the first American-born pontiff's term. Cupich was seated with other cardinals just to the right of the pope on the altar, before a crowd of roughly 100,000 worshippers, including numerous dignitaries and global faith leaders. Pope Leo XIV's homily rebuked 'an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth's resources and marginalizes the poorest,' a position Cupich believes was shaped by the pontiff's life experience, from his roots in the Chicago area to his work as a longtime missionary in Peru. Born Robert Francis Prevost, the 69-year-old pontiff was raised in a devoutly Catholic family in south suburban Dolton. His upbringing in the Chicago area helped form Prevost's leadership style and character, Cupich said. 'He's a man who's not afraid of hard work. Who knows what it means to live in a diverse community,' Cupich said, noting that Mass is celebrated in more than two dozen languages across the Chicago Archdiocese. 'We have this experience and culture that's quite unique. And all of that was part of forming this man.' For roughly 20 years in Peru, Prevost lived and worked with people 'who were in abject poverty' and experienced climate change first-hand, including some of the most ozone-depleted areas in the world in the Andes Mountains, Cupich said. 'So he is going to raise his voice… That kind of commitment is going to be very strong,' the cardinal predicted. 'Because it's been personally experienced by him.' Themes of peace and unity were also woven through the pope's address, amid an increasingly polarized world where war continues to rage in Gaza and Ukraine. Cupich noted that the new pope met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy immediately after the inaugural Mass and then on Monday received a visit from Vance, signs that the pontiff is already getting to work to help quell international conflict. Both world leaders were present at the pope's installation Sunday. While giving the homily, the pontiff's tone wasn't critical or berating, Cupich said. 'But it was a plea to humanity that, folks, we can do better. We're better than this,' he said. 'We can roll up our sleeves and solve these problems. We don't have to go down this path of ruin with war. With marginalization of people. By ignoring the immigrant.' During his time in Rome, Cupich stopped Saturday at the Basilica of St. Bartholomew on Tiber Island, his titular church. Whenever a new cardinal is named, he's assigned a titular church in Rome to signify his connection to the pope, who also serves as the bishop of Rome. The 10th Century basilica was founded by German Emperor Otto III to house the relics of St. Bartholomew. The baroque-style church rests on one of the smallest islands in the world, measuring about 890 feet long and 220 feet wide, connected to the city by two ancient Roman bridges. Cupich took possession of the church in 2016 when he was made a cardinal by Pope Francis; the basilica was formerly the titular church of Cardinal Francis George, who died in 2015. 'The pope not only gave me a whole church, but a whole island,' Cupich said, laughing. The cardinal said the basilica helps him maintain strong ties to Rome and Pope Leo XIV – now the new bishop of Rome – even though Cupich lives and works some 4,000 miles away. 'It's a place where I can call home when I come here,' he said. 'Of course, this church ties me to the city of Rome. I do feel, as a priest of Rome, that (Pope Leo) is my bishop in a special way.' The church also links Chicago to Rome and the pope: The Archdiocese has helped fund the church, donations that are commemorated on a sign on one of the basilica's walls. Cupich said he encourages folks from the Chicago area to visit St. Bartholomew when they travel to Rome. The church is cared for by the Community of Sant'Egidio, a Catholic lay association, which includes members in the Chicago area. After Cupich was inducted into the College of Cardinals in 2016, he presided over a vespers service in the church, which was attended by then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, then-Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke and Bruce Rauner, who was governor at the time. The basilica also houses a shrine to modern Christian martyrs from around the world, whose relics line both sides of the church and also fill the crypts below. There's the missal and stole of Archbishop of San Salvador Oscar Romero, who was killed at the altar as he celebrated Mass in 1980. A cross belonging to Sr. Leonella Sgorbati, who was murdered in Somalia in 2006. The notebook of Abish Masih, a young boy injured in a terrorist attack at a Catholic church in Lahore, Pakistan in 2015. 'You're going to see, from around the world, people whose blood was shed for the faith,' Cupich said. 'This church here is a place where we bring home that martyrdom is a current event.' The cardinal intends to return to Chicago later this week, ending his second history-witnessing trip to Rome in May. Earlier this month, Cupich took part in the papal conclave that elected Prevost as pope on May 8, stunning many Catholic scholars and hierarchs who didn't anticipate an American would be named pontiff. The cardinal flew back to Chicago afterward, where much of the city was thrilled with the news of its home-town pope. 'I couldn't get from the plane to the car without having people stop me,' he recalled. 'People kept saying 'job well done.' Thanks for what we did.' The excitement wasn't restricted to Catholics. 'People of all faiths expressed that pride that Chicago produced a pope,' he said. 'This was an opportunity to say 'there's a lot of good that's a part of Chicago.'' Cupich and Prevost had worked together for several years in a Vatican office tasked with vetting worldwide bishop candidates; Pope Francis named Prevost to lead that office in 2023. The new pope is 'a very disciplined man,' Cupich said. 'He's very measured. He's going to do things step by step in an orderly way. He has an organic approach to problem solving,' he added. 'People may be impatient with that because they want quick and easy solutions. But he knows that things have to come in an orderly and progressive way. And he's willing to be patient with that.' The 76-year-old cardinal also called the pontiff 'a young man.' 'This is the first time I know that I'm old,' he said. 'I mean, if you're older than the pope….' When asked if Chicago gets any Catholic fringe benefits or special perks from the church now that the city claims a pope, the cardinal laughed. 'There's no bennies,' he said. 'Maybe a couple more rosaries blessed or something like that.' ReplyForward
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chicago's Rev. Michael Pfleger reflects on 50 years in the priesthood: ‘You don't bow down to the hater'
The Rev. Michael Pfleger's initial idea for celebrating 50 years in the priesthood was simple: do nothing. But for Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, that was unacceptable. 'He called me up, and he said, 'What are you doing for your 50th?' and I said, 'I'm not doing anything,'' Pfleger recalled as Cupich stood next to him at an anniversary celebration on Chicago's South Side this week. 'And he says, 'You gotta do something for your 50th.' And he's my boss, and I always do what he says.' The comment got a laugh from the crowd, many of them longtime parishioners at St. Sabina Church and familiar with the pastor's penchant for bucking authority. The outspoken priest, at the cardinal's urging, eventually came up with an idea. 'I wanted to bless the community,' Pfleger said. And with that, the 75-year-old Pfleger decided to host an all-day event to honor the 50th anniversary of his ordination. The church hosted a gun turn-in and gun lock giveaway throughout much of Wednesday. At noon, the church gave away 400 boxes of free food, followed by an afternoon carnival for kids in the church parking lot that featured two bouncy castles, a petting zoo and grilled hot dogs and hamburgers. The Chicago-born priest has been a fixture at the predominantly Black St. Sabina Church — and in the Auburn Gresham community — since being assigned to the parish more than 40 years ago. Parishioners described the pastor as someone who truly practices what he preaches and expressed gratitude for his relentless dedication to social justice, which at times has put him in the national spotlight and at the center of controversy. His dedication to activism has meant holding protests — including one that resulted in an arrest in 2007 — outside of a suburban gun shop, which later closed its doors. He led a shut down of the Dan Ryan Expressway in 2018, calling for stricter gun legislation. He has successfully called for the removal of tobacco and liquor billboards in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood and other parts of the city. He even took on 'The Jerry Springer Show,' accusing it of glorifying violence for its viewers. In 1966, when he was a teenager, Pfleger he ventured to Marquette Park to watch a civil rights protest that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. attended. Pfleger said he witnessed the hatred some of his neighbors harbored towards Dr. King — and how Dr. King responded to that hatred with love. That moment stuck with Pfleger and, he said, influenced the type of pastor he would later become. Pfleger was assigned to lead St. Sabina Church in 1981, becoming the youngest pastor in the archdiocese. The Archdiocese of Chicago, like many American dioceses, limits a priest's time in a parish to two consecutive six-year terms, making his long tenure at St. Sabina unusual. Pfleger publicly sparred with Cupich's predecessor, Cardinal Francis George, when the archdiocese attempted to transfer him to another position. George, who suspended Pfleger during their tiff, eventually backed down amid neighborhood outcry. That community support was evident during the anniversary celebration. 'And he (is) gonna stay here another 50 years,' a woman listening to the conversation with Cupich chimed in. 'You don't think I should move him?' Cupich asked. 'Who's going to push me in a wheelchair?' Pfleger responded. Throughout the day, parishioners gave Pfleger hugs and words of gratitude for his dedication over the years. One woman brought the pastor a card she signed for him. 'He (has) the heart of God. He has a really big heart. People would never believe the type of person he is,' said Annette Nance-Holt, a St. Sabina parishioner and Chicago Fire Department commissioner. Nance-Holt lost a child to gun violence. Pfleger suffered a similar loss when his foster son Jarvis was shot and killed a few blocks from the church in 1998. It was the pastor's dedication to stopping gun violence, Nance-Holt said, that helped her feel more connected to the priest. 'He gets so much bad stuff pointed at him a lot of times,' Nance-Holt said. 'But he's just such a wonderful person, and that's what made me come to this church, because of what he does.' Indeed, Pfleger is no stranger to controversy. 'I've had hate all my years here, hate from the gun industry, hate from the billboard industry, hate from the alcohol and tobacco industry, hate from the Holocaust Museum, hate from very conservative Catholics,' Pfleger said. 'You don't bow down to the hater, cancel what you believe in … You believe in it, stand for it and that's gonna create hate, so what?' Beyond the attacks towards his activism, he has also been scrutinized for some of his other remarks and actions. In 2008, he came under fire for a sermon in which he mocked Hillary Clinton's campaign against Barack Obama. He was asked by Cardinal George to take a disciplinary leave of absence following the remarks, but shortly returned to his parish duties. In April 2011, Pfleger was suspended from St. Sabina after he was asked to take over as the head of Leo Catholic High School. Pfleger refused and stated publicly that he'd rather leave the Catholic Church entirely than take the assignment. The suspension was lifted a month later. In 2019, Pfleger was sharply criticized for inviting Louis Farrakhan — religious leader of the Nation of Islam — to speak at St. Sabina following Farrakhan's ban from Facebook for previous antisemitic comments. At that event, Farrakhan said he wanted to separate 'good Jews' from 'Satanic Jews.' Cupich apologized for Farrakhan's remarks and urged Pfleger to visit the Holocaust Museum. Officials of the Illinois Holocaust Museum also spoke out against Pfleger for inviting Farrakhan to speak. In 2021, three men alleged they were sexually abused by Pfleger in the 1970s, accusations Pfleger has vehemently denied. The Archdiocese of Chicago conducted an independent investigation into the matter and cleared him of wrongdoing. Pfleger was accused again in 2022, but the archdiocese cleared him after that accusation as well. Throughout the ups-and-downs, many parishioners at St. Sabina have stood by Pfleger's side. The thing that keeps parishioners standing by him? His commitment to their community, they say. 'When I first met Father Mike, I thought, honestly, I just thought he was another white priest in the hood just trying to help the Black people,' said Joseph Saunders, a parishioner since 1996. 'But once you get to know the man … you cannot help but love the man.' Saunders emphasized that it's Pfleger's dedication to helping others that has made him a faithful follower. Jacqueline Collins, former state senator and member of the Illinois Human Rights Commission, echoed the sentiment. She said she joined St. Sabina in 1986. She had left the Catholic Church and was making another attempt to reconnect with her faith, but during her first service she noticed an altar dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 'To come into a Catholic Church and see his altar dedicated to honoring Dr. King really impressed me,' said Collins, who also admired his commitment to social justice. Later down the line, when she was in her final year at Harvard University for graduate school, it would be Pfleger who encouraged Collins to run for the state senate. 'I wanted to work with Hillary Clinton, but he told me, 'No, why not come back and be a witness for the community in which you live,'' Collins said. 'So I said, 'No.' He said, 'I give you three days to pray about it.'' Collins would go on to serve as state senator for nearly 20 years.
Chicago Tribune
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago's Rev. Michael Pfleger reflects on 50 years in the priesthood: ‘You don't bow down to the hater'
The Rev. Michael Pfleger's initial idea for celebrating 50 years in the priesthood was simple: do nothing. But for Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, that was unacceptable. 'He called me up, and he said, 'What are you doing for your 50th?' and I said, 'I'm not doing anything,'' Pfleger recalled as Cupich stood next to him at an anniversary celebration on Chicago's South Side this week. 'And he says, 'You gotta do something for your 50th.' And he's my boss, and I always do what he says.' The comment got a laugh from the crowd, many of them longtime parishioners at St. Sabina Church and familiar with the pastor's penchant for bucking authority. The outspoken priest, at the cardinal's urging, eventually came up with an idea. 'I wanted to bless the community,' Pfleger said. And with that, the 75-year-old Pfleger decided to host an all-day event to honor the 50th anniversary of his ordination. The church hosted a gun turn-in and gun lock giveaway throughout much of Wednesday. At noon, the church gave away 400 boxes of free food, followed by an afternoon carnival for kids in the church parking lot that featured two bouncy castles, a petting zoo and grilled hot dogs and hamburgers. The Chicago-born priest has been a fixture at the predominantly Black St. Sabina Church — and in the Auburn Gresham community — since being assigned to the parish more than 40 years ago. Parishioners described the pastor as someone who truly practices what he preaches and expressed gratitude for his relentless dedication to social justice, which at times has put him in the national spotlight and at the center of controversy. His dedication to activism has meant holding protests — including one that resulted in an arrest in 2007 — outside of a suburban gun shop, which later closed its doors. He led a shut down of the Dan Ryan Expressway in 2018, calling for stricter gun legislation. He has successfully called for the removal of tobacco and liquor billboards in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood and other parts of the city. He even took on 'The Jerry Springer Show,' accusing it of glorifying violence for its viewers. In 1966, when he was a teenager, Pfleger he ventured to Marquette Park to watch a civil rights protest that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. attended. Pfleger said he witnessed the hatred some of his neighbors harbored towards Dr. King — and how Dr. King responded to that hatred with love. That moment stuck with Pfleger and, he said, influenced the type of pastor he would later become. Pfleger was assigned to lead St. Sabina Church in 1981, becoming the youngest pastor in the archdiocese. The Archdiocese of Chicago, like many American dioceses, limits a priest's time in a parish to two consecutive six-year terms, making his long tenure at St. Sabina unusual. Pfleger publicly sparred with Cupich's predecessor, Cardinal Francis George, when the archdiocese attempted to transfer him to another position. George, who suspended Pfleger during their tiff, eventually backed down amid neighborhood outcry. That community support was evident during the anniversary celebration. 'And he (is) gonna stay here another 50 years,' a woman listening to the conversation with Cupich chimed in. 'You don't think I should move him?' Cupich asked. 'Who's going to push me in a wheelchair?' Pfleger responded. Throughout the day, parishioners gave Pfleger hugs and words of gratitude for his dedication over the years. One woman brought the pastor a card she signed for him. 'He (has) the heart of God. He has a really big heart. People would never believe the type of person he is,' said Annette Nance-Holt, a St. Sabina parishioner and Chicago Fire Department commissioner. Nance-Holt lost a child to gun violence. Pfleger suffered a similar loss when his foster son Jarvis was shot and killed a few blocks from the church in 1998. It was the pastor's dedication to stopping gun violence, Nance-Holt said, that helped her feel more connected to the priest. 'He gets so much bad stuff pointed at him a lot of times,' Nance-Holt said. 'But he's just such a wonderful person, and that's what made me come to this church, because of what he does.' Indeed, Pfleger is no stranger to controversy. 'I've had hate all my years here, hate from the gun industry, hate from the billboard industry, hate from the alcohol and tobacco industry, hate from the Holocaust Museum, hate from very conservative Catholics,' Pfleger said. 'You don't bow down to the hater, cancel what you believe in … You believe in it, stand for it and that's gonna create hate, so what?' Beyond the attacks towards his activism, he has also been scrutinized for some of his other remarks and actions. In 2008, he came under fire for a sermon in which he mocked Hillary Clinton's campaign against Barack Obama. He was asked by Cardinal George to take a disciplinary leave of absence following the remarks, but shortly returned to his parish duties. In April 2011, Pfleger was suspended from St. Sabina after he was asked to take over as the head of Leo Catholic High School. Pfleger refused and stated publicly that he'd rather leave the Catholic Church entirely than take the assignment. The suspension was lifted a month later. In 2019, Pfleger was sharply criticized for inviting Louis Farrakhan — religious leader of the Nation of Islam — to speak at St. Sabina following Farrakhan's ban from Facebook for previous antisemitic comments. At that event, Farrakhan said he wanted to separate 'good Jews' from 'Satanic Jews.' Cupich apologized for Farrakhan's remarks and urged Pfleger to visit the Holocaust Museum. Officials of the Illinois Holocaust Museum also spoke out against Pfleger for inviting Farrakhan to speak. In 2021, three men alleged they were sexually abused by Pfleger in the 1970s, accusations Pfleger has vehemently denied. The Archdiocese of Chicago conducted an independent investigation into the matter and cleared him of wrongdoing. Pfleger was accused again in 2022, but the archdiocese cleared him after that accusation as well. Throughout the ups-and-downs, many parishioners at St. Sabina have stood by Pfleger's side. The thing that keeps parishioners standing by him? His commitment to their community, they say. 'When I first met Father Mike, I thought, honestly, I just thought he was another white priest in the hood just trying to help the Black people,' said Joseph Saunders, a parishioner since 1996. 'But once you get to know the man … you cannot help but love the man.' Saunders emphasized that it's Pfleger's dedication to helping others that has made him a faithful follower. Jacqueline Collins, former state senator and member of the Illinois Human Rights Commission, echoed the sentiment. She said she joined St. Sabina in 1986. She had left the Catholic Church and was making another attempt to reconnect with her faith, but during her first service she noticed an altar dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 'To come into a Catholic Church and see his altar dedicated to honoring Dr. King really impressed me,' said Collins, who also admired his commitment to social justice. Later down the line, when she was in her final year at Harvard University for graduate school, it would be Pfleger who encouraged Collins to run for the state senate. 'I wanted to work with Hillary Clinton, but he told me, 'No, why not come back and be a witness for the community in which you live,'' Collins said. 'So I said, 'No.' He said, 'I give you three days to pray about it.'' Collins would go on to serve as state senator for nearly 20 years.
