Cardinal George in memoriam: Humor and grace

Cardinal George poses for a selfie with James Coleman, 11, after celebrating Mass at his boyhood parish St. Pascal's on March 4, 2012. The cardinal graduated with the class of 1951 and was ordained a priest there in 1963. (Brian J. Morowczynski/Catholic New World)

Father Dan Flens, Cardinal George and Bishop Kane laugh with a young boy sitting on Father Tirso Villaverde's lap on Dec. 23, 2013. Father Tirso is pastor at St. Thomas of Canterbury Parish. Cardinal George celebrated the Simbang Gabi novena Mass earlier at Queen of All Saints Basilica, 6280 N. Sauganash Ave.. (Karen Callaway/Catholic New World)

Cardinal George laughs with CBS reporter Susan Carlson following the blessing and groundbreaking of the new 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. (Karen Callaway/Catholic New World)

Cardinal George and Bishop J. Peter Sartain of the Diocese of Joliet, laugh as students say what school they are attending on Feb. 19, 2008. They shared at the end of Mass for college students living and studying at campuses in the Chicago and Joliet dioceses. (Catholic New World/Karen Callaway)

Cardinal George reacts after reading a question from a young adult during the archdiocese's first multicultural Encuentro held at Old St. Mary's Church, 1500 S. Michigan Ave. on April 13, 2013. (Karen Callaway/Catholic New World)

Cardinal George receives a hug upon his arrival. Hundreds of Hispanic Youth gathered for the fourth annual "Encuentro Juvenil" at Maryville in Des Plaines on Nov. 22, 2013. (Karen Callaway/Catholic New World)

Cardinal George looks over a script with cameraman Gonzalo Accame before recording a message in Spanish at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops headquarters in Washington March 23, 2009. In the message, Cardinal George urged Catholics in the United States to tell the Obama Administration to retain Health and Human Services regulations governing conscience protections for health care workers. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Cardinal George gestures after a reporter asks if he is happy to retire during a press conference at the Quigley Center on Sept. 20 2014. (Karen Callaway/Catholic New World)

Father Dan Flens and Cardinal George laugh at a comment made during the homily as the Office for Black Catholics, the Black Catholic Deacons, and the Catholic Communities of the African Diaspora for a special prayer service on Aug. 8, 2014. The prayer service was held at the St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel, 7740 S. Western Ave. (Karen Callaway/Catholic New World)

Cardinal George smiles as he opens a gift from youth at Dominican University in River Forest on Jan. 13, 2012. The youth met during National Migration Week in collaboration with the Office for Immigrant Affairs and Immigration Education of the archdiocese, to obtain information about the Dream Act, engage in group discussion and have a question and answer session with the cardinal. (Karen Callaway/Catholic New World)

Cardinal George laughs and applauds during as Advent Prayer Liturgy at the St. James Chapel located at the Archbishop Quigley Center 835 N. Rush St. on Dec. 21, 2013. Afterward staff presented him with a cake for the 50th anniversary of his ordination. (Karen Callaway/Catholic New World)

Cardinal George laughs with San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo Garcia Siller at the annual Hispanic Ministry Awards Banquet, at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace on Aug. 24, 2012. Garcia-Siller is a former auxiliary bishop for Chicago. (Karen Callaway/Catholic New World)

Cardinal George of Chicago, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, delivers the homily during Mass at the start of the bishops' annual fall meeting in Baltimore Nov. 15, 2010. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)

Rachel Devitt and Ellen Hodges surprise Cardinal George with some homemade cookies after he blessed the creche at Daley Plaza Nov. 26, 2005. (Karen Callaway/Catholic New World)