In the same cathedral where he sometimes worshiped as a child, Archbishop Francis George ascended the altar Wednesday and took his place as leader of the nation’s second-largest Catholic archdiocese.

Pope John Paul II appointed George - bishop of Yakima from July 1990 until his appointment as Portland’s archbishop last year, in April to lead the 2.3 million Catholics in the Chicago area. The announcement filled the vacancy left by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, who died Nov. 14 of pancreatic cancer.

Some theologians predict he will take a hard line on church issues, where Bernardin spoke often of uniting dissenting views.

George is clear that he will staunchly defend church doctrine, supporting the pope on issues such as opposition to abortion and women priests.