(Chicago)  Longtime Chicago Archbishop Francis Cardinal George has died at 78.  Francis George headed the Catholic Church in Chicago from 1997 to 2014.  George retired while battling cancer and was replaced by current Archbishop Blase Cupich.

George was known as a staunch conservative who took over after the reign of liberal Joseph Cardinal Bernardin.

George was an intellectual who held doctorates in philosophy and sacred theology.

He talked recently about making an impact on the lives of others, “As people in public life you say something occasionally, you reach out in some gesture of kindness.  You do something that you are not even aware of, because (it’s) just part of who you are… and you transform someone’s life.  And that is what is eternal.  That’s what lasts.”

He was a Chicago native who grew up in St. Pascal’s parish on the northwest side of Chicago.

During his tenure he also served for three years as the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

John Dempsey, 89 WLS News