New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan had a lot to say about Pope Francis, who died on Monday, however he saved his remarks temporary.
“Believe me, I could preach longer,” Dolan stated Tuesday throughout a Mass at Manhattan’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral. “But Pope Francis always complained about priests preaching too long.”
As an alternative, Dolan used the 45-minute noon Mass to laud the late pontiff as “a gift to be long savored.”
“He was a troubadour of God’s mercy, constantly preaching God’s tender mercy for us and encouraging our tender mercy for one another,” Dolan stated. “For us Catholics, this is a death in the family. We didn’t call him Holy Father for nothing.”
Cardinal Timothy Dolan (C), Archbishop of New York, leaves a mass for the late Pope Francis at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Tuesday. (Photograph by KENA BETANCUR/AFP through Getty Pictures)
Dolan supplied prayers for Pope Francis on the venerable cathedral the archbishop dubbed “America’s Parish church.”
Becoming a member of him had been Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy in addition to civic and elected leaders together with Mayor Adams.
Dolan saluted the worldwide Catholic chief a day after the pontiff died after a stroke and coronary heart failure at his Vatican house.
Rev. Al Sharpton (second from proper) attends a mass for the late Pope Francis at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Tuesday. (Photograph by KENA BETANCUR/AFP through Getty Pictures)
The frail Francis had celebrated Easter with public phrases to his devoted flock and a quick assembly with Vice President Vance.
Dolan even discovered time for a lighthearted second when he requested Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, the Holy See’s consultant to the United Nations, if he was out of a job now.
Caccia will ship a mass in Pope Francis’ honor at St. Patrick’s on Saturday.
A nun prays throughout a mass in reminiscence of late Pope Francis at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Tuesday. (Photograph by KENA BETANCUR/AFP through Getty Pictures)
An image of the pope sat on the cathedral’s altar, flanked by two lit white candles.
Dolan thanked God for permitting the world to see the pope’s highs and lows.
Mayor Adams attends a mass in reminiscence of late Pope Francis at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Tuesday. (Photograph by KENA BETANCUR/AFP through Getty Pictures)
“We’re grateful for what God taught us about how he lived and about how he died,” Dolan stated. “He was confidant enough to let us see his struggle.”
Initially Printed: April 22, 2025 at 2:04 PM EDT
