Cupich, Blase << SOO pihch, blayz >> Joseph (1949-…), became a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church in 2016. Cardinals are high-ranking clergymen in the church. They advise the pope and elect the pope’s successor after he dies or resigns. Cupich has served as the archbishop of Chicago since 2014. Chicago has one of the largest Catholic communities in the United States .
Cupich was born on March 19, 1949, in Omaha , Nebraska . He received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the College of St. Thomas (now the University of St. Thomas) in St. Paul , Minnesota , in 1971. Cupich then trained for the priesthood at the Pontifical North American College and Pontifical Gregorian University, both in Rome . He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theology in 1974 and 1975, respectively. Theology is the study of God and religion. Cupich was ordained a priest in 1975. In 1987, he earned a doctorate in sacramental theology—that is, theology dealing with holy ceremonies—from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
From 1975 to 1981, Cupich held positions as an associate pastor, teacher, and church administrator in Omaha. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, he held a number of administrative and pastoral posts in the church in Washington, D.C., and Nebraska. He was also president and rector (head) of the Pontifical College Josephinum, a Catholic college and seminary in Columbus , Ohio . From 1998 to 2010, Cupich served as bishop of Rapid City , South Dakota . In 2010, he became bishop of Spokane , Washington . The Spokane diocese had declared bankruptcy after making payments to victims who had made claims of sexual abuse by clergy. From 2008 to 2011, Cupich was chairman of a United States Conference of Catholic Bishops committee to protect young people from sexual abuse by clergy.
Pope Francis appointed Cupich archbishop of Chicago in 2014. Cupich was chosen to succeed Cardinal Francis E. George , who had reached retirement age and was in poor health. Like Pope Francis, Cupich was noted for his emphasis on helping the poor and being willing to listen to people with different points of view. Cupich was elevated to the rank of cardinal on Nov. 19, 2016.
