( CNN ) -- After 17 years as Chicago 's archbishop , the ailing Cardinal Francis George welcomed his pending retirement Saturday with praise for his successor -- and words of relief . The Vatican on Saturday announced that Pope Francis had accepted George 's resignation as archbishop and chosen Blase Cupich , bishop of Spokane , Washington , as the man who will succeed George in leading the Chicago area 's 2.3 million Catholics in November . The 77-year-old George , who has been battling kidney cancer , told reporters that he 'll look forward to advising the Pope as cardinal through various committees , as health permits . But leaving the archbishop post will be a relief , partly because health problems have made it difficult for him to focus fully on his duties . `` This is a full-time job , so I am relieved and grateful that somebody who can do it full time will be in charge , '' George said at a news conference in Chicago on Saturday morning . George , the first Chicago native to lead the archdiocese , submitted his resignation when he turned 75 in 2012 . Church law requires bishops to offer to quit at 75 , though it is not uncommon for the Pope to let them continue in their posts . Yet his required resignation offer also came in a year he was diagnosed with cancer . The cancer was dormant for a year after chemotherapy in 2012 , but it showed new signs of activity this year , the Chicago archdiocese said . After more chemotherapy , the archdiocese said in August that George agreed to participate in a University of Chicago trial of a new drug aimed at boosting his immune system to fight the disease , according to the archdiocese . Pope to visit Philadelphia next year for conference . Cupich , talking to reporters with George , said one of this top priorities was to get to know his new flock . He currently serves 100,000 Catholics in his Spokane post , which he began in 2010 . `` This is an enormous upgrade , so to speak , '' said Cupich , who also was bishop of Rapid City , South Dakota , from 1998 to 2010 . `` I want to get to know each and every one of you , so I hope that you 'll be patient with me . '' He said he would know which priorities to stress after he spends more time in the area . But when asked what his priorities were for Hispanics , who are a significant portion of Chicago 's Catholics , he offered what he thought politicians should be doing . `` We need comprehensive immigration reform , '' Cupich said . `` ... Every day we delay it is a day too long , and we should move on it today . '' Cupich , like many archbishops settling into their new jobs in recent years , also will spend time assessing where his archdiocese is with priesthood sex abuse allegations . The church has been hit by many accusations of child abuse from across the United States and Europe , stretching back decades . In 2011 , plantiffs ' attorneys announced the Chicago archdiocese agreed to pay $ 3.2 million to settle a 2007 lawsuit that alleged church leaders failed to remove a priest that they knew had sexually abused minors . In January 2014 , the archdiocese said it would release to a plaintiffs ' lawyer documents related to 30 priests who 'd been accused of abusing minors during the last 50 years . The archdiocese said 95 % of those cases happened before 1988 , and no priest with a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor currently served in the archdiocese . `` ( Cupich will ) be fully briefed , '' George said Saturday . `` When I ( became archbishop ) , I sat down for half a day and went through every single case , and that will happen here , too . '' George praised Cupich as a man of `` deep faith , a quick intelligence , personal commitment and varied pastoral experience . '' George and Cupich , a Nebraska native , will remain in their current posts until Cupich is installed as Chicago archbishop November 18 . Pope John Paul II named George as Chicago archbishop in 1997 . A year later , the Pontiff elevated George to cardinal , enabling him to participate in the conclaves that selected the next two Popes , Benedict XVI and Francis .
Cardinal Francis George stepping down after 17 years as Chicago archbishop . Spokane Bishop Blase Cupich chosen to succeed George . George resigned as required at age 75 in 2012 , but Pope did n't accept it until now . George has been battling kidney cancer .