Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George is asking for prayers after dropping out of an experimental drug program that was supposed to help his body to recognize and attack the cancer that has been plaguing him for several years.

CNA/EWTN News is reporting that the Archdiocese released a statement asking the faithful to keep the Cardinal in their prayers after the decision was made to cease the treatment.

“He is at peace, but he counts on everyone’s prayers that he might be of service to the Lord and His Church in the time left to him,” the Archdiocese of Chicago said Dec. 31. “Cardinal George would like to thank all those who have been praying for him, and asks them to continue to do so. You and those you love are remembered in his prayers as well.”

Cardinal George was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2006 which resulted in the removal of his bladder, prostate gland and sections of the tubes which connect the kidneys to the bladder. Six years later, doctors discovered cancerous cells on his kidney and a nodule in his liver. Those cells were removed surgically and the Cardinal underwent chemotherapy.

In August of 2014, he entered a trial program for a new drug designed to activate cells of the immune system to attack cancer cells.

“This approach differs from that of traditional chemotherapy, which uses drugs designed to be toxic to cancer cells,” the Archdiocese announced at the time. “A preliminary trial of this new drug has shown promising results for patients who have the same type of cancer as Cardinal George. The current study seeks to confirm these results in a larger number of patients.”

Unfortunately, the drug has not proven to be effective for the 77 year-old Cardinal who is now planning on meeting with his doctors to determine the best course of action moving forward.

Cardinal George retired last year and was succeeded by Archbishop Blasé Cupich.

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