Cardinal George in memoriam: Influence beyond Chicago

Cardinal George signs the Texas flag for Erin El-Tawil of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston during a World Youth Day catechesis session in Dusseldorf, Germany, Aug. 17, 2005. (CNS photo by Bob Roller)

Cardinal George, center right, attends the plenary meeting of the Pontifical Council for Culture at the Vatican Feb. 7, 2013. The theme of the Feb. 6-9 assembly was "Emerging Youth Cultures." (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Cardinal George of Chicago boards a bus after concelebrating Mass with U.S. bishops from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin on their "ad limina" visits in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Feb. 9, 2012. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Cardinal George and Mexican Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera pray in front of the tomb of St. Peter in St. Peter's Basilica April 18 , 2005 before the start of a Mass opening the conclave. The Mass was the last public event before the cardinals began secret balloting to elect a new pope. (CNS photo by Nancy Wiechec)

Catholic clergy wait for Pope Benedict XVI's arrival at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington April 15, 2008. Left to right are: Auxiliary Bishop Francisco Gonzalez of Washington; Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington; Msgr. David Malloy, general secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; and Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the USCCB. (CNS photo/Bob Roller)

Vatican secretary of state Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, left, and Cardinal George, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, wait for Pope Benedict XVI to arrive on the South Lawn of the White House April 16, 2008. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)

Cardinal George, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, addresses an audience at the Marriott Center on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, Feb. 23, 2010. In his speech the cardinal spoke of Catholics and Latter-day Saints as partners in defending religious freedom. (CNS photo/Jaren Wilkey, courtesy of Brigham Young University)

Cardinal George of Chicago speaks during a discussion and vote on a new English translation of the Order of Mass during the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' spring meeting in Los Angeles June 15, 2006. Cardinal George served on the International Commission on English in the Liturgy. At right is Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., president of the USCCB. (CNS photo/Greg Tarczynski)

Officials join in the opening prayers at the start of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' spring meeting in San Antonio June 17, 2009. Pictured from left is Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz., vice president; Chicago Cardinal Francis George, president; Msgr. David Malloy, general secretary, and parliamentarian Henry M. Robert III. (CNS photo/Bahram Mark Sobhani)

Cardinal George preaches during Mass marking the centennial year of Catholic Charities USA at Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington Sept. 25, 2010. Representatives from Catholic Charities agencies across the country, national and international Catholic leaders, and clients of Catholic Charities' services participated in the liturgy. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)

Cardinal George listens during the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops annual fall meeting in Baltimore Nov. 12, 2013. (CNS photo/Nancy Phelan Wiechec)

Cardinal George addresses World Youth Day pilgrims in a catechesis session Aug. 17, 2000, at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. (CNS photo by Nancy Wiechec)