 Cardinal George is the current Archbishop of Chicago. He is also the first native Chicagoan to assume the office. His Eminence Francis Eugene Cardinal George, OMI (January 16, 1937- ) is the eighth priest and first native of Chicago, Illinois to assume the office of Archbishop of Chicago. Cardinal George is the senior prelate of the Archdiocese of Chicago, one of the largest Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States. To help facilitate his duties, Cardinal George speaks English, French, Italian, Spanish and German.
Early Years
Born in Chicago to Francis J. and Julia R. McCarthy George, he attended St. Pascal Grade School in the city's northwest side. Cardinal George then enrolled at St. Henry Preparatory Seminary in Belleville, Illinois before joining the religious order of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate on August 14, 1957. He was sent to the University of Ottawa in Canada to study theology before being ordained to the priesthood on December 21, 1963. Ordination took place at his home parish of St. Pascal Church by Bishop Raymond Hillinger.
Father of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Father George's religious order sent him to Catholic University of America in Washington, DC where he earned a master's degree in philosophy in 1965. He then attended classes at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana where he obtained a doctorate in American philosophy in 1970. Father George then returned to the University of Ottawa to obtain a master's degree in theology in 1971.
While studying for college, Father George at the same time taught philosophy at Oblate Seminary in Pass Christian, Mississippi from 1964 to 1969, Tulane University in 1968 and Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska from 1969 to 1973.
Upon his departure from Creighton University, Father George served as Provincial Superior of the Midwestern Province for the Oblates in St. Paul, Minnesota for a year. He was then elected Vicar General of the Oblates and served in Rome through 1986. It was in Rome that Father George obtained his Doctorate of Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Urban University in 1988.
Primate of Yakima and Portland
Pope John Paul II appointed Father George the fifth Bishop of Yakima in Washington state on July 10, 1990. He was ordained and installed on September 21 in St. Paul Cathedral. He served Yakima for five and a half years.
Pope John Paul II appointed Bishop George to become the ninth Archbishop of Portland in Oregon on April 30, 1996. He was installed in a ceremony on May 27.
Archbishop of Chicago
On April 8, 1997, Pope John Paul II appointed Archbishop George to become the eighth Archbishop of Chicago to fill a vacancy left by the much beloved Joseph Cardinal Bernardin on November 14, 1996. On May 7 after his appointment, the Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Agostino Cacciavillan installed Archbishop George in Holy Name Cathedral. On January 18, 1998, Pope John Paul II announced Archbishop Georges elevation to the Sacred College of Cardinals. Newly named Cardinal George was awarded the privileges of the scarlet vestments and biretta in consistory at the Vatican on February 21.
Duties of the Roman Curia
Pope John Paul II appointed Cardinal George to several offices of the Roman Curia:
- Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
- Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life
- Pontifical Council
- Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
- Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church
- Congregation for Oriental Churches
- Pontifical Council for Culture.
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