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Blase J. Cupich facts for kids

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His Eminence Blase Joseph Cupich
Cardinal,
Archbishop of Chicago
Cardinal Blase Cupich preaches at a mass in 2021 at Saint John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Church
Archdiocese Chicago
Appointed September 20, 2014
Enthroned November 18, 2014
Predecessor Francis George
Other posts
  • Cardinal-Priest of S. Bartolomeo all'Isola
  • Member, Congregation for Bishops
  • Chancellor of Catholic Extension
Orders
Ordination August 16, 1975
Consecration September 21, 1998
by Harry Joseph Flynn
Created Cardinal November 19, 2016
Rank Cardinal-Priest
Personal details
Birth name Blase Joseph Cupich
Born (1949-03-19) March 19, 1949 (age 75)
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Previous post
  • Bishop of Spokane (2010‍–‍2014)
  • Bishop of Rapid City (1998‍–‍2010)
Education
  • University of St. Thomas
  • Saint John Vianney College Seminary
  • Pontifical North American College
  • Pontifical Gregorian University
  • Catholic University of America
Motto
  • Peace be with you
  • John 20:21
Styles of
Blase Joseph Cupich
Coat of arms of Blase Joseph Cupich.svg
Reference style
    • His Eminence
    • The Most Reverend Eminence
Spoken style Your Eminence
Informal style Cardinal
See Chicago

Blase Joseph Cupich ( SOO-pitch; March 19, 1949) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church, a cardinal who serves as archbishop of the Latin Church Archdiocese of Chicago.

Early life and education

Blase Joseph Cupich was born on March 19, 1949, in Omaha, Nebraska, into a family of Croatian descent, as one of the nine children of Blase and Mary (née Mayhan) Cupich. He attended Mount Michael Benedictine Abbey and High School in Elkhorn, Nebraska, and Archbishop Ryan High School in Omaha, Nebraska. Cupich then studied at Saint John Vianney Seminary at the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota, obtaining his Bachelor of Philosophy degree in 1971. Cupich went to Rome to study at the Pontifical North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University, earning a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree in 1974 and a Master of Theology degree in 1975. He speaks six languages, including English and Spanish.

Career

Cupich was ordained a priest in 1975. After his ordination, he served as both associate pastor at St. Margaret Mary Parish and instructor at Paul VI High School in Omaha until 1978. He served as director of the Office for Divine Worship and as chair of the Commission on Youth from 1978 to 1981.

From 1980 to 1981, Cupich was an instructor in the Continuing Education of Priests Program and Diaconate Formation at Creighton University in Omaha. He then served as secretary of the nunciature to the United States until 1987, and occasionally acted as spokesman for the mission. Cupich was pastor of St. Mary Parish in Bellevue, Nebraska, from 1987 to 1989, president-rector of the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, from 1989 to 1996, and pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Omaha from 1997 to 1998.

He was named Bishop of Rapid City in South Dakota, by Pope John Paul II in 1998. Cupich was then named bishop of the Diocese of Spokane in Washington State by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. After being chosen by Pope Francis to succeed Cardinal Francis George as Archbishop of Chicago, Cupich was installed there in 2014. He was subsequently also appointed to the Roman Curia's Congregation for Bishops, which plays a role in advising the pope on episcopal matters, including appointments. Named to the College of Cardinals in 2016, Cupich was additionally appointed to the Congregation for Catholic Education.

Cupich is the Catholic co-chair of the National Catholic-Muslim Dialogue, sponsored by the Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the USCCB. He is chancellor of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Blase Joseph Cupich para niños

  • Catholic Church in the United States
  • Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
  • List of Catholic bishops of the United States
  • Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops
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