Local Senator Kirk Statement on Death of Cardinal Francis George by Gary Kopycinski on April 17, 2015 Gary Kopycinski Author More in Local: Park Forest’s Sandra Zoellner Retires After 21 Years of Service June 17, 2026 Save the date for The Prairie Party at theNate June 17, 2026 Governors State Has New Soccer Complex and New Men’s Coach June 17, 2026 WASHINGTON –(ENEWSPF)—April 17, 2015. U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today released the following statement on the passing of Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago from 1997 until 2014: