Pope Francis with Archbishop Blase Cupich of Chicago, IL in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on September 2, 2015.

Vatican Media/CNA.
Pope Francis with Archbishop Blase Cupich of Chicago, IL in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on September 2, 2015.

According to one source, Pope Francis was “seriously considering making a surprise appointment, a bishop from the peripheries” to replace Cardinal Ouellet, one of the several heads of Vatican dicasteries that have reached retirement age.