Chicago, Ill., Jan 26, 2006 / 22:00 pm
On Thursday, Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George, spiritual head of the third largest Catholic diocese in the U.S., was hospitalized following frequent complaints of dizziness.
The Cardinal had just returned to the country from a trip to Rome and New Zealand Wednesday, before being taken to Chicago’s Loyola University Medical Center, where he was listed in fair condition as of Thursday night.
Officials from the Archdiocese are confident that the hospitalization was just a precaution and the Cardinal will be back to work soon.
According to the Washington Post, Archdiocesan spokesman Jim Dwyer said that the bout "doesn't appear to be anything serious,” although George will probably remain in the hospital overnight for observation.
Some 2.4 million Catholics are served by the Archdiocese of Chicago, which Cardinal George took over in 1997.
Faithful across the diocese, and much of the country, have been offering frequent prayers for the Cardinal.