Cardinal Pope stepping down after 17 years as Chicago archbishop . 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 . CNN chosen to succeed George . Pope resigned as required at 17 years , but Francis George did n't accept it until now . George has been battling kidney cancer .
Cardinal Pope stepping down after 17 years as Chicago archbishop . CNN chosen to succeed George . Pope resigned as required at 17 years , but Francis George did n't accept it until now . George has been battling kidney cancer .