Next Chicago archbishop is important to Protestants, too
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Chicago, Ill. Photo: Gerald Farinas.
As a Presbyterian Church (USA) elder, you might wonder why I have such a keen interest in who Pope Leo XIV chooses as the next Archbishop of Chicago. After all, I’m not Catholic.
I disagree with plenty of Catholic theology—especially on LGBTQ and women’s issues. So why should I care?
The answer is simple: Chicago.
Our city has something special when it comes to faith communities working together. We held the Parliament of World Religions in 1893. We convened the second World Council of Churches in 1954.
We’re not just tolerating each other. We’re actually partnering to make our neighborhoods better.
Over the past decade, we’ve seen more and more cooperation between Christian denominations and other faiths.
It’s not just talk in conference rooms. It’s real work happening on real streets.
Take my own corner of the city as an example. I’m part of Edgewater Presbyterian Church, and we belong to something called the Edgewater Community Religious Association, or ECRA.
This isn’t some feel-good discussion group. It’s Catholic parishes, Protestant churches, Jewish synagogues, Muslim mosques, Hindu temples, Buddhist centers, and others rolling up their sleeves together.
One of ECRA’s biggest successes is Care For Real, which started as a small interfaith effort and became the largest food pantry on the North Side.
When families in our community need help putting food on the table, they don’t care if the volunteers handing them groceries are Catholic, Presbyterian, or Muslim.
They just need help, and we’re providing it together.
This is why the Archbishop of Chicago matters to me, even as a Presbyterian:
Whether I like it or not, when the Archbishop of Chicago speaks, people listen.
In the public eye, he carries moral weight that extends far beyond Catholic parishes.
He becomes, in many ways, a voice for Christianity in our city. That’s a big responsibility.
And it’s not just a local position.
The Archbishop of Chicago historically rises to national prominence, often joining the College of Cardinals who choose future popes.
So this appointment will influence American Christianity for years to come.
I want someone in that role who understands what we’re building here in Chicago.
Someone who sees interfaith cooperation not as a threat to Catholic identity, but as a way to live out the Gospel in a diverse city.
Someone who can work with Presbyterian elders, Episcopalian and Lutheran pastors, Jewish rabbis, and Muslim imams to tackle our shared challenges.
The man who becomes Archbishop will shape how Catholics engage with the rest of us.
Will he encourage the kind of partnerships that created Care For Real?
Will he see other faith communities as allies in serving Chicago’s most vulnerable residents?
Or will he retreat into isolation?
These questions matter because Catholics make up a huge part of Chicago’s faith landscape.
When they’re at the table, we can accomplish amazing things. When they’re not, we’re missing a crucial partner.
So yes, I’m invested in this decision.
I’m praying that Pope Leo XIV chooses someone who will strengthen the ecumenical spirit that makes Chicago special.
I also hope for someone that will highlight and enrich some of the best social programs of the Catholic Church.
The Catholic Worker movement in Chicago, an offshoot of the New York-based Catholic Worker, has been actively involved in social justice and works of mercy since the 1930s. It's known for its houses of hospitality, where members live and serve the poor and marginalized, and its commitment to pacifism, voluntary poverty, and prayer.
More of that, please!
The same can be said about the work of Catholic Charities. They focus on addressing immediate needs like food and shelter, as well as providing support for long-term challenges like homelessness, mental health issues, and lack of affordable housing.
If I’m being completely honest? I’ve got my eye on a particular candidate.
History shows that popes usually tap someone who’s already an Archbishop elsewhere in the U.S., typically a man in his 60s.
In all likelihood, that man will be lacking on LGBTQ issues. That’s just reality of it all. That won’t stop me—and the Archdiocesan Gay and Lesbian Outreach (AGLO)—from loudly advocating for our LGBTQ Catholic siblings.
Some bishops in the running are so much better than others.
*cough*
Not that anyone’s asking this know-nothing Presbyterian for advice, but if they were, I’d have a name ready.
I’m just saying.
