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Challenges facing the Catholic church in America require leaders to be "real" and not "get caught up in living in our own little bubble of an idea," newly appointed Chicago archbishop Blase Cupich told NCR in an interview Sunday.

The 65-year-old pastor's ascent to the Chicago archdiocese -- the nation's third largest and historically one of its most important -- has captivated the Catholic world in the United States and represents a potentially important shift in the direction for the U.S. bishops' conference, observers say. One privately called it an "ecclesial earthquake."

Indeed, on the hot-button cultural issues that some have faulted the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for "obsessing" over since the time of Pope John Paul II, Cupich has earned a reputation for offering calm, cool, caring commentary.

Additionally, he has shown an ability to communicate Pope Francis' messages on economic markets and to balance the full sweep of Catholic social teaching.

"This is a Pope Francis bishop," said Georgetown University's John Carr, who for 20 years served as director of the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development at the USCCB. He said Cupich has "humble ways, a powerful commitment to the poor, a collaborative style, [and is] nonconfrontational."

Carr, who attended seminary with Cupich in the late 1960s and early '70s, described a man who believes in the power of dialogue and seeks to understand people where they are in the world.

"He has experience with Native Americans in South Dakota, he has experience with migrants in eastern Washington -- that's a part of him now," Carr said. "He has always been smart, always a leader. He's principled. He listens, he learns, he reads, he prays, he leads."

So it comes as no surprise that Cupich's ascension has energized progressive Catholics who want to see Pope Francis' style permeate the American church. The feeling in the air is that he represents a new day.

But what will it take to break past the culture wars within the bishops' conference?

A compare-and-contrast between Cupich and the man he is replacing, Cardinal Francis George, who was president of the bishops' conference from 2007 to 2010, gives a sense of what the new archbishop may be up against.

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As Chicago archbishop, Cupich may face culture war mentality

How Robin Williams Mrs Doubtfire Won the Culture Wars
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How Robin Williams Mrs Doubtfire Won the Culture Wars - Video

Archbishop-Elect Blase Cupich speaks to the press Sept. 20, 2014 in Chicago, Ill. (Scott Olson, Getty Images North America)

Bishop Blase Cupich, who has struck a moderate tone on divisive social issues, was appointed the archbishop of Chicago on Saturday, succeeding a cardinal with an aggressive approach to the culture wars.

Cupich, of Spokane, Wash., will take over leadership of the Archdiocese of Chicago in November, succeeding Cardinal Francis George, who has been battling cancer and has said he thinks the disease will end his life.

Cupich is Pope Francis' first major appointment in the U.S. and the clearest indication yet of the direction he wants to steer American church leaders.

The Chicago archdiocese is the nation's third-largest and among its most important, serving more than 2.2 million Catholics. Chicago archbishops are usually elevated to cardinal and are therefore eligible to vote for the next pope.

George is especially admired in the church's conservative wing as an intellectual who took a hard line against abortion and same-sex marriage. Francis has said he wants church leaders to focus more on mercy and compassion and less on hot-button issues.

At a Chicago news conference Saturday, Cupich pledged to consult with local Catholics as he leads them.

"All my mistakes in life have come from when I've decided on my own, 'This is how things have to go,' " he said.

Cupich played down any broader significance about why he was the pope's choice. "I think he sent a pastor, not a message," Cupich said.

Still, the Rev. John Jenkins, president of the University of Notre Dame, said Cupich "will be a pastorally dedicated, theologically astute and visionary leader in line with Francis' transformative papacy."

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Pope Francis names Blase Cupich as next Chicago archbishop

By RACHEL ZOLL AP Religion Writer

Bishop Blase Cupich, a moderate who has called for civility in the culture wars and has embraced Pope Francis' focus on fighting poverty, will be named the next archbishop of Chicago, The Associated Press has learned.

Cupich of Spokane, Washington will succeed Cardinal Francis George, according to a person with knowledge of the selection, who spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the person wasn't authorized to speak publicly.

The Archdiocese of Chicago has scheduled a news conference for Saturday morning. A spokeswoman for the archdiocese would not comment. George, 77, has been battling cancer and has said he believes the disease will end his life.

The pope's choice for Chicago has been closely watched as his first major appointment in the U.S., and the clearest indication yet of the direction he will steer American church leaders. Cupich is a moderate and is not among U.S. Roman Catholic bishops who have taken a harder line on hot-button issues. Francis has called for a greater focus on mercy and compassion instead of divisive social issues.

The Archdiocese of Chicago serves 2.2 million parishioners and is the third-largest diocese in the country. Chicago archbishops are usually elevated to cardinal and are therefore eligible to vote for the next pope.

The Chicago church has long been considered a flagship of American Catholicism, sparking lay movements of national influence and producing archbishops who shape national debate.

George is especially admired in the church's conservative wing as an intellectual who took an aggressive stand against abortion, gay marriage and other issues. He had succeeded Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, a liberal and hero to Catholics who place equal importance on issues such as abortion and poverty.

Cupich, 65, is a native of Omaha, Nebraska, where he was ordained a priest. He holds degrees from the Pontifical Gregorian University and The Catholic University of America. He was appointed bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota, in 1998, and served there until 2010, when he was appointed to Spokane.

In a 2012 essay in the Jesuit magazine America, Cupich said the U.S. bishops "rightly objected" to the original narrow religious exemption in President Barack Obama's requirement that employers provide health insurance that covers contraception. But Cupich called for a "return to civility" in conversations about religious liberty and society.

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Spokane's Cupich to be next Chicago archbishop

Published September 20, 2014

FILE - In this April 11, 2014, file photo, Chicago Cardinal Francis George pauses while speaking during a news conference in Chicago. The Associated Press has learned that Bishop Blase Cupich of Spokane, Wash., will be the next archbishop of Chicago. A person with knowledge of the selection says Cupich will succeed George. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person wasn't authorized to speak publicly. The Archdiocese of Chicago has scheduled a news conference Saturday, Sept. 20, but will not comment. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)(The Associated Press)

FILE - In this April 11, 2014, file photo, Chicago Cardinal Francis George speaks during a news conference in Chicago. The Associated Press has learned that Bishop Blase Cupich of Spokane, Wash., will be the next archbishop of Chicago. A person with knowledge of the selection says Cupich will succeed George. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person wasn't authorized to speak publicly. The Archdiocese of Chicago has scheduled a news conference Saturday, Sept. 20, but will not comment. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)(The Associated Press)

FILE - In this April 17, 2002, file photo Chicago's Cardinal Francis George answers questions from the media after a news conference in Chicago. The Associated Press has learned that Bishop Blase Cupich of Spokane, Wash., will be the next archbishop of Chicago. A person with knowledge of the selection says Cupich will succeed George. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person wasn't authorized to speak publicly. The Archdiocese of Chicago has scheduled a news conference Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014, but will not comment. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)(The Associated Press)

FILE - In this April 11, 2014, file photo, Chicago Cardinal Francis George exits a news conference in Chicago. The Associated Press has learned that Bishop Blase Cupich of Spokane, Wash., will be the next archbishop of Chicago. A person with knowledge of the selection says Cupich will succeed George. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person wasn't authorized to speak publicly. The Archdiocese of Chicago has scheduled a news conference Saturday, Sept. 20, but will not comment. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)(The Associated Press)

Newly appointed Archbishop of Chicago, Archbishop Blase Cupich speaks to the media after it was announced that he would replace Cardinal Francis George, retiring leader of the Chicago Catholic Archdiocese during a news conference in Chicago, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)(The Associated Press)

Bishop Blase Cupich, a moderate who has called for civility in the culture wars and has embraced Pope Francis' focus on fighting poverty, will be named the next archbishop of Chicago, The Associated Press has learned.

Cupich will succeed Cardinal Francis George, according to a person with knowledge of the selection, who spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the person wasn't authorized to speak publicly.

The Archdiocese of Chicago has scheduled a news conference for Saturday morning. A spokeswoman for the archdiocese would not comment. George, 77, has been battling cancer and has said he believes the disease will end his life.

The pope's choice for Chicago has been closely watched as his first major appointment in the U.S., and the clearest indication yet of the direction he will steer American church leaders. Cupich is a moderate and is not among U.S. Roman Catholic bishops who have taken a harder line on hot-button issues. Francis has called for a greater focus on mercy and compassion instead of divisive social issues.

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Spokane Bishop Blase Cupich, a moderate, to be next archbishop of Chicago