When a president appoints a cabinet member, what follows is always a period of intense speculation and analysis on whether his selection will be a harbinger of change or a proxy for partisan politics. It's no different at the Vatican, where Roman Catholics are hypothesizing about Pope Francis' first big appointment - Most Reverend Blase Cupich (pronounced Soup-itch) - who is succeeding Cardinal Francis George as the Archbishop of Chicago.
Everyone wants to know what kind of leader Cupich will be, and what his appointment signals for the church. The simple answer is that he's a pastor like the majority of others - guided by biblical principles, who does not fit neatly into the "conservative/progressive" binary.
The first round of media commentary pegged Cupich as a "little Francis," mostly because of his choice to reside in a no-frills rectory instead of the North State Parkway mansion that has hosted a president and popes - and has been home to his predecessors since it was built in 1885.
Cupich's practicality is one of his standout features - but few of the bishop's other actions may seem contradictory outside the benefit of some context.
For instance, in a move that irked ultra-conservative Catholic groups like Life Site News, Cupich instructed priests to refrain from demonstrating outside Planned Parenthood facilities when he led the Spokane, Wash., diocese in 2011. On its face, the move seemed to indicate Cupich held a permissive stance toward moral issues - and the confusion was akin what happened after the pope uttered his famous "who am I to judge?" line.
But in a sermon Cupich gave at a Respect Life Mass in 2013, his unmistakable pro-life position couldn't be any more pronounced. In his sermon, he speaks, "on behalf of the babies in the womb, inspired not by partisanship or pursuit of privilege or power, but by the same passion of patriotism that united a nation to mourn the loss of those babies in Newtown."
Cupich has also defended traditional Catholic stances on social issues, like marriage and religious liberty, with fervor. His response to Pope Francis' letter, "Evangelii Gaudium," published in "America" magazine last September, reveals a sincerity and sensitivity to the place of Catholicism in the wider world. In line with this philosophy are his remarks condemning the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) contraceptive mandate - but these have been largely overlooked by those calling him progressive.
So far, Cupich has pledged to make four specific modifications to his leadership strategy -inspired by prayer and the witness of Pope Francis:
- Encounter: He says teaching doctrine isn't enough; people must have a personal encounter with God and be taught discernment to follow him.
- Enculturation: In our multi-cultural and globalized society, translating the Christian message for non-Christians is a challenge. Cupich calls doing so an "urgent" priority.
- Ecumenism: The substantial rifts between Christian denominations are well known. Mere healing and reconciliation are "minimalist" responses, according to Cupich. What's really needed is for Catholics to take a deeper look at what other Christians do well and learn from it.
- Grassroots Consulting: It's common for decision makers to consult with financial and legal advisors, and Cupich says he wants advice from people on the ground - especially those working with the poor, in areas like health, education and other ministry.
These are priorities you don't often hear from the pulpit. They transverse typical boundaries that church observers like to draw in favor of spirit-led leadership. "You cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going," as it says in John 3.
Overall, Cupich is best looked upon as part of the current wave of priests and prelates who are trying to make their actions - as well as their governance - more consistent with the Gospel.
Kathryn Elliott covers the Vatican, Pope Francis and all things related to the Catholic Church for HNGN. She is a producer for EWTN News Nightly, an international cable news show airing weeknights at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. EST on the Global Catholic Television Network. Kathryn has reported for the National Catholic Register, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Catholic Spirit, The Minnesota Daily and The Word Among Us Magazine. She has a BA in professional journalism from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Kathryn lives in Washington D.C. Follow her on Twitter at @kmelliott90.
