Catholic World News

Most Americans excited, supportive of Pope after interview: Cardinal Dolan

October 09, 2013

Following a meeting with Pope Francis, Cardinal Timothy Dolan told a Vatican Radio audience that most of the people he encounters in New York are excited by the new Pontiff, and “there seems to be almost like a fresh romance with Pope Francis.”

Cardinal Dolan—who was visiting Rome along with other leaders of the US bishops’ conference—revealed that when the American prelates met with the Pontiff, Francis was nearly brought to tears by the memory of the tragedy that killed nearly 200 migrants off Lampedusa. The cardinal also disclosed that the Holy Father has sent the papal almoner to Lampedusa to bring some comfort to the victims’ families.

Questioned about the impact of the Pope’s interview with Jesuit magazines, Cardinal Dolan said that he personally found the Pope’s words “exhilarating and inspirational.” He said that he told the Pope that people in New York were saying, “Boy, do we ever love Pope Francis.” The cardinal conceded that some passages of the interview had given rise to confusion and debate. But he said: “No, I think most committed Catholics, they’re nuanced enough to know what the Holy Father meant. And they know that there’s perhaps some misinterpretations.”

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