Blase Cupich officially takes over as Chicago's ninth archbishop

CHICAGO, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Blase Cupich was officially installed as Chicago's ninth archbishop Tuesday, presiding over his first mass as the archdiocese's new leader.

Cupich takes the place of the ailing Cardinal Francis George as the spiritual leader of more than 2 million American Catholics. The transfer of power marked the first time in the archdiocese's history a new archbishop took over while his predecessor is still alive.

In his homily, Cupich touched upon the church's sex abuse scandal saying that all bishops need to reach out to victims of abuse and "rebuild the trust that has been shattered." He later thanked Pope Francis for appointing him, adding the archdiocese's support would be with him.

Cupich was previously the bishop of the diocese of Spokane, in Washington state.

George, who is retiring after serving as archbishop since 1997, is battling cancer. He held is final mass Sunday at Holy Name, individually greeting hundreds of the standing-room crowd who wished to say goodbye.