The Pope has appointed a leading moderate archbishop to an important post in the Vatican, signalling once more his determination to move the Catholic Church more towards the centre.

In a strategic move during the current Year of Mercy, Pope Francis yesterday named Archbishop of Chicago Blase Cupich to the Congregation for Bishops, the body responsible for advising the Pope on episcopal appointments worldwide. 

Cupic, born in Nebraska and one of nine children, is a much-loved and highly regarded bishop in Chicago and has made his name as a pastor of great integrity across some of the Church's most difficult areas, such as the child sex abuse scandal, as well as prioritising the poor and deprived.

The appointment is thought to put him in line for further promotion in Rome and, ultimately, a cardinal's red hat, although for now it will not affect his duties in Chicago apart from travelling to Rome for meetings.

"I am humbled by the Holy Father's trust and confidence in me. While my primary responsibility remains here in the Archdiocese of Chicago, I look forward to joining other members of the Congregation for Bishops to serve the Pope and the Church in this ministry," he said in a statement

Michael Budde, professor of Catholic studies at DePaul University, told the Chicago Times that Cupich's style and priorities at a local level are important to the pontiff: "I think it's fair to say this kind of references the pope's priorities and points to who he entrusts with a particularly important responsibility within the church. This is a big deal. This isn't just pushing papers from one side of the desk to the other."

He is one of about 35 archbishops, including three US bishops, on the congregation. Cupich was personally selected by the pope to be Archbishop of Chicago two years ago.

Christian Today recently reported that Pope Francis has pledged he will not be deterred from making changes by the strong rhetoric of the ultra-conservative wing of the Catholic Church. But nor will he "chop off their heads", he said.

There are some people in the Church who say no to everything, he admitted. He said he will not live in fear of them or go around looking over his shoulder, but nor will he fight them. "I don't chop off heads. That was never my style. I've never liked doing that," he said. 

Pope Francis was talking in an interview with Joaquín Morales Solá of La Nación in Argentina. According to an analysis on LifeSite, the Pope was indicating that he will not be slowed down by "ultra-conservatives".

Cupich's appointment comes days after the traditionalist Archbishop of Philadelphia Charles Chaput came down hard on divorced and remarried Catholics, arguing it was Christian teaching that they must not have sex.