Cardinal George in memoriam: A friend of dignitaries and popes

Cardinals stand on a side balcony of St. Peter's Basilica during the introduction of Pope Benedict XVI to the crowd in St. Peter's Square April 19, 2005. At the far right is Cardinal George. (CNS photo by Nancy Wiechec)

Cardinal George received the rarely bestowed Medal of Merit, the City of Chicago's highest honor, at the City Council meeting on Dec. 10, 2014, at City Hall. Mayor Rahm Emanuel presented the award to the cardinal followed by a standing ovation by politicians. Past recipients of the medal include James Hickey, a Chicagoan honored in 2004 for his role as an Army officer in the capture of Saddam Hussein. In 1999, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Rev. James Meeks and then-U.S. Rep. Rod Blagojevich received the medal for their efforts to free three U.S. servicemen being held captive by the former Yugoslavia. (Karen Callaway/Catholic New World)

Eight of the 11 U.S. cardinal electors pose for a group photo at the Pontifical North American College before heading off to the Vatican for Mass and the start of the conclave March 12, 2013. Pictured from left are: Cardinals Justin Rigali, Donald W. Wuerl, Francis E. George, Sean P. O'Malley, Timothy M. Dolan, Daniel N. DiNardo, Roger M. Mahony and Edwin F. O'Brien. Not pictured, but participating in the conclave, are Cardinals Raymond L. Burke and James M. Harvey. (CNS/Paul Haring)

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York signs a cardinal electors poster after being asked for his autograph by a young man March 12, 2013, at the Vatican. Looking on is Cardinal George. The U.S. prelates were among the 115 cardinals that entered the conclave later that day. (CNS photo/Catholic Press Photo)

Cardinal George greets Pope John Paul II during the pope's weekly general audience at the Vatican Oct. 30, 2002. A Vatican-U.S. joint commission, of which Cardinal George was a member, announced proposed revisions to the U.S. bishops' norms regarding clergy sexual abuse adopted during their meeting in Dallas last June. (CNS photo from Reuters)

Cardinal George greets Maggie Daley and Mayor Richard M. Daley prior to the blessing and groundbreaking of the Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory School on June 26, 2008. It is the first Catholic high school built on the West Side in 85 years. (Catholic New World/Karen Callaway)

Pope Benedict XVI meets Feb. 9, 2012, with Cardinal George during his "ad limina" visit to the Vatican. Bishops from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin were making their "ad limina" visits to the Vatican to report on the status of their dioceses. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano)

Cardinal George joined Orthodox Church leaders for the national observance of the 75th anniversary of the Ukrainian Genocide Holodomor. The event began with a procession down Dearborn Street to Superior Street and concluded with a requiem service at Holy Name Cathedral on Nov. 15, 2008. The observance aimed to raise awareness of the man-made famine that claimed 10 million victims in Ukraine in 1932-1933. Services were held around the world to mark the milestone, including a Solemn Requiem Service at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. (Karen Callaway/Catholic New World)

Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow, Poland, and Cardinal George share a laugh as they greet guests prior to an archdiocesan event in Niles on June 29, 2008. Cardinal Dziwisz made several stops in Chicago on his two-day visit to the city, which has one of the largest Polish communities outside of Warsaw. He served as Pope John Paul II's personal secretary for nearly 40 years. (Karen Callaway, Catholic New World)

Newly elevated Cardinal George receives the red hat from Pope John Paul II during the consistory ceremony in St. Peter's Square Feb. 21, 1998. (CNS photo from Reuters)

Cardinal George leads U.S. bishops in prayer in front of St. Peter's tomb before concelebrating Mass in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Feb. 9, 2012. Bishops from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin were making their "ad limina" visits to the Vatican to report on the status of their dioceses. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Cardinal George meets with the Consulate General of Guatemala to talk about current issues between the countries. They met at the Cardinal Meyer Center, 3525 S. Lake Park Ave. on March 10, 2012. (Karen Callaway/Catholic New World)

Cardinal George greets Pope Francis during his audience with cardinals March 15, 2013 at the Vatican. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano)