Cardinal George released from hospital after fall

Chicago, Ill., Apr 9, 2007 / 07:15 am

Cardinal Francis George was released from the hospital on Easter Sunday, one day after slipping on the marble church floor at St. Ferdinand's Church and fracturing his hip.

The Cardinal was blessing Easter baskets at the time of his fall. He received applause after being helped back to the altar. He continued the Mass before being taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood.

Cardinal George suffered from polio as a child and wears a brace on his right leg that causes him to fall occasionally, archdiocese spokeswoman Colleen Dolan told The Associated Press.

The 70-year-old Archbishop of Chicago will recover at home, Dolan told the Chicago Tribune. He has postponed or canceled all of his public appearances until he is feeling better.

The injury will require physical therapy and the Cardinal will use a walker for about a week so as not to put pressure on the hip while it heals, Dolan said. He is expected to resume his regular work schedule from home on Monday.

One of the events he missed was the Easter Mass at Holy Name Cathedral. The congregation prayed for him, reported the Tribune. Cardinal George celebrated Easter Mass in the chapel at his private residence.

He will also miss a pilgrimage this week to Rome to celebrate his 10th anniversary as Archbishop of Chicago. The trip will go on, led by Bishop Timothy Lyne.

The cardinal underwent surgery July 27 to have his cancerous bladder removed.