CardinalFrancisE.George,O.M.I.,wasanexemplarypastorandheroicdiscipleofChrist.AnativeChicagoan,hewastoldasayoungmanthathewouldneverbeapriestinChicagobecauseofaphysicaldisabilityresultingfrompolio.HewentontobeordainedapriestwiththeOblatesofMaryImmaculatein1963.ThenativesonwasappointedasarchbishopofChicagoin1997,createdacardinalin1998,andservedinChicagountil2014,justmonthsbeforehisdeathinApril2015.CardinalGeorgewasapropheticvoiceintheChurch--amanabletoseethingsastheyareandfromthepointofviewofthewholeChurch.Hisepiscopalmotto,“ToChristbegloryintheChurch,“encapsulateshislegacy,becauseeverydecisionhemade,everyactionhetook,everysufferingheenduredwasaboutservingothersandpointingthemtoourSavior.Mostofall,CardinalGeorgewasaChristianineverysense.Hewasconcernedaboutrelationshipsandpeople,notcareerismoradvancement.Hewasattentivetothepoorandthoseonthemargins.Hewasamanofprayer,dedicatedtoOurLady,anddevotedtotheEucharist.HearticulatedtheFaithandwascommittedtoreform.Hewashonest,accountable,genuine,andholy.AdmiredforhispursuitandproclamationofthetruthandhispersonalwitnesstotheGospel,CardinalGeorgeremainsamodelfordiscipleshipandleadership.
