Cardinal George a radio host?

When Bob Sirott and Marianne Murciano recorded their interview with Cardinal Francis George at the retiring Roman Catholic archbishop’s Gold Coast residence — which aired Friday afternoon on “Sirott & Murciano” on WGN-Radio (720 AM) — they asked the cardinal if he’d ever consider hosting his own radio show, now that he’ll have more free time.

“Nobody has ever asked me that before,” said the cardinal. “But, I might enjoy that. I do like talking to people. That could be interesting. Do you think WGN would hire me?”

In the wide-ranging interview, Cardinal George reminisced about growing up on Chicago’s North Side and how he enjoyed playing softball, long a passion of Sirott’s. “Sixteen-inch, of course,” said the cardinal. “That’s what we all played. The sewers in the street were the bases. I pitched, because that was the position where I could do the least harm.”

As for all the talk about the large mansion that has been the Chicago archbishops’ residence for more than a century — and where his successor, Archbishop-designate Blase Cupich, will not live — the cardinal jokingly told Bob & Marianne, “I suggested they turn it into a B&B, but that idea was rejected.”

In sharing the cardinal’s comment about the mansion, Sirott quipped, “At least I think he was joking.”