Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich joined detainees at the Cook County Jail on Christmas morning to celebrate Mass and urge them to put aside fear and embrace their humanity.
“It’s important for us to embrace and accept our humanity,” he said. “Not to be afraid of it. Not to be afraid of the fact that just because we have made mistakes in life, that we give up on ourselves. But that we all share a common humanity.”
The Christmas morning Mass at the Cook County Jail is an annual event for Cupich and Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., who sought to use it to remind the men who were spending the holiday in jail that they were not forgotten.
A detainee holds their cross as they attend Cardinal Blase J. Cupich’s Christmas Day Mass at Cook County Jail on Dec. 25, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)Cardinal Blase J. Cupich conducts Christmas Day Mass at the Cook County Jail on Dec. 25, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)
People in custody attend Cardinal Blase J. Cupich’s Christmas Day Mass at Cook County Jail on Dec. 25, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)A Cook County Sheriff's correctional officer watches detainees as they attend Cardinal Blase J. Cupich’s Christmas Day Mass at Cook County Jail on Dec. 25, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)A detainee reaches out to shake hands with a Cook County Sheriff's correctional officer, off camera, during Cardinal Blase J. Cupich’s Christmas Day Mass at Cook County Jail on Dec. 25, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)
Members of the Black Catholic Choir, Michael Hill, left, and Deborah Powell, right, sing to detainees during Cardinal Blase J. Cupich’s Christmas Day Mass at Cook County Jail on Dec. 25, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)A person in custody receives communion during Cardinal Blase J. Cupich’s Christmas Day Mass at Cook County Jail on Dec. 25, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)People in custody attend Cardinal Blase J. Cupich’s Christmas Day Mass at Cook County Jail on Dec. 25, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)
Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks to people in custody during Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s Christmas Day service at Cook County Jail on Dec. 25, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)People in custody listen to Rev. Jesse Jackson speak during Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s Christmas Day service at Cook County Jail on Dec. 25, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)Rev. Jesse Jackson’s daughter Santita Jackson sings to Cook County Jail detainees during Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s Christmas Day service on Dec. 25, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)
People in custody raise their hands after Rev. Jesse Jackson asked “Who has been in here for more than 2 years?” during Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s Christmas Day service at Cook County Jail on Dec. 25, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)A detainee stands up after listening to Rev. Jesse Jackson speak during Rainbow PUSH Coalition's Christmas Day service at Cook County Jail on Dec. 25, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)Rev. Jesse Jackson’s daughter Santita Jackson, center, sings to Cook County Jail detainees during Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s Christmas Day service on Dec. 25, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)
A person in custody prays during Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s Christmas Day service at Cook County Jail on Dec. 25, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)Rev. Jesse Jackson, right, shakes hands with detainees after speaking during Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s Christmas Day service at Cook County Jail on Dec. 25, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)
