Archbishop Blase Cupich receives pallium

CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) - Chicago’s Archbishop Blase Cupich formally received the pallium at Holy Name Cathedral on Sunday afternoon and hundreds lined up for the special ceremony.

“This ceremony usually takes place in Rome. Chances are we're never going to get there - to Rome.  But we're going to see it here,” said Karen Ertl.

Karen and Rich Ertl from St Irenaeus Church in Park Forest were at the head of the line this morning to watch Archbishop Cupich receive the pallium.  Like others, they were excited to see a ceremony that for decades was performed at the Vatican.

The mass began with the Pope's delegate to the U.S. delivering the pallium to Archbishop Cupich.  It's a scarf-like vestment that is about two inches wide with six black crosses, three of them are marked with gold pins, symbolizing the three nails of Christ's crucifixion. Other parts of the pallium are also deeply symbolic.

“Made of lambswool, marked with crosses and stained at the ends with black to resemble hooves of the sheep, it is placed on the shoulders, reminding the one who wears it and the entire church he serves that we are community that goes after the lost sheep. Not only those who have strayed, but those who are ignored,” said Archbishop Cupich.

The wearing of the pallium signifies an archbishop's unity with the Pope.

“Well, I think it's, as I tried to say in the homily, it's a matter of realizing that I'm in this together with everybody else here in the archdiocese.  And when I take this upon my shoulders, I do so happily and with great coincidence in the city of big shoulders,” said Archbishop Cupich.

When the mass concluded, parishioners lined up to congratulate the Archbishop.