CHICAGO (WBBM/CBS 2) - The Cardinal was resting at home Monday while recovering from a fractured femur after a slip and fall at a Northwest Side church.
The archdiocese says the Cardinal will continue his recuperation and maintain his regular work schedule from home, however all of his public appearances for the next few days will be temporarily postponed.
The 70-year-old Roman Catholic archbishop was hospitalized briefly.
A camera captured the moment when Holy water on a marble church floor caused the Cardinal to slip and fall at St. Ferdinand Church, 5900 W. Barry, on Saturday during the blessing of Easter food baskets.
The Cardinal, a polio survivor, wears a brace on his leg and has fallen before. This time, he fractured his femur, which forced him to miss Easter mass.
Francis Cardinal George is known for his work ethic, and spokesperson Colleen Dolan said she expects him to be back in his office later this week, using a walker to help get around.
But travel is out. Doctors have ruled out any travel for several weeks, and that has forced him to cancel his scheduled trip to Rome, which was supposed to begin on Friday.
He was supposed to take part in a U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting, celebrate Mass in the Vatican and take part in a number of ceremonies marking his 10th anniversary as Chicago's Catholic Archbishop.
Although Cardinal George won't be there, another 150 people who were supposed to go to Rome with him will go forward with their trip.
Auxiliary Bishop Timothy Lyne will lead the trip, and Dolan says those who are taking part will go to the same Masses and other activities they had planned.
Dolan said the Cardinal will be thinking of them while they are in Rome and said he is hoping for their prayers as well as the prayers of all Chicago-area Catholics.
The cardinal was treated after the fall at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood.
"Over time it can heal; they don't have to do surgery," said Dolan.
"If he's got a non-operative fracture then he has an excellent prognosis," said orthopedic surgeon Dr. Christopher Mahr.
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