Chicago's Cardinal Cupich offers prayers for French people
CHICAGO - The cardinal of the Archdiocese of Chicago is offering prayers for the people of France after fire engulfed parts of Paris' iconic Notre Dame cathedral.
Cardinal Blase Cupich asked others to join him in offering prayers for first responders, renovation workers and cathedral staff. It took firefighters more than 12 hours Monday and Tuesday to extinguish the blaze that claimed the famous cathedral's spire and roof but spared its bell towers.
Cupich said in a Tuesday statement that Chicago's Catholics stand "arm in arm" with the French people. He says just as Chicago rose from its ashes after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 "Paris' great cathedral will again reach for the heavens."