U.S. Confrence of Bishops Expected to Elect Francis Cardinal George Leader in Tuesday Vote
By Jay Levine
CBS 2
November 12, 2007
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/francis.cardinal.george.2.566224.html
BALTIMORE - Chicago's Francis Cardinal George is in Baltimore Monday night on the eve of what many believe will be his election to president of the U.S. Conference of Bishops. CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports on what the election will mean for the pope's upcoming visit to America next year.
The Vatican's representative here used the backdrop of Baltimore and the bishops' conference in Baltimore to announce Pope Benedict's first trip to the United States. The irony is The timing will make Cardinal George the host even though the pope isn't scheduled to be anywhere near Chicago.
The visit will take place exactly three years after his election by Cardinal George and others who celebrated at St Peter's.
The mid-April trip will be limited to Washington and New York City, with a reception at the White House, a speech at the United Nations, and a visit to ground zero.
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| Francis Cardinal George (far right) at the Vatican during the election of Pope Bendict. |
"George will be at the Pope's right hand as president of the U.S. Bishops' Conference when he's in New York, when he's in Washington," said John Allen, of the National Catholic Reporter.
The cardinal will become president Tuesday, as elected by colleagues who've considered him a leader for some time.
"He works a room like he was a Chicago precinct captain – genial, clever, astute, Chicago politician and coming from me … that's a compliment," said Fr. Andrew Greeley of Chicago.
Cardinal George seems to be a shoe-in, despite the protest Monday by groups unhappy with his handling of the case of Daniel McCormack, the Chicago priest allowed to remain in contact with children despite charges of sexual abuse.
"He's certainly been articulate on the subject of sexual abuse here and also in the Vatican trying to help the Vatican officials understand what this has meant to the church," said Father Gerald Kicanas of Tuscon, Ariz., a former Chicagoan.
That is something people will be waiting to hear from the pope, too.
"As the pope of the Catholic Church you cannot come to the United States and pretend that the sexual abuse crisis didn't happen," Allen said.
He will address the crisis; he will address it in a high-profile way, but he doesn't want it to become the lead of this trip.
The whole visit is centered around an invitation to address the United Nations. There will also be at least two major masses at sports stadiums in Washington and New York, along with several other events. It will not be, anything like the pace John Paul used to keep up when he was younger.
In addition to marking his second year as pope, Benedict will also turn 81 years old during the visit.
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