Mark Kelly: “today all of New York grieves for the passing of his eminence John Cardinal O'Connor, the archbishop of New York.…”

“today all of New York grieves for the passing of his eminence John Cardinal O'Connor, the archbishop of New York. Cardinal O'Connor was a tireless advocate for the disadvantaged, the poor, the working class. His passing is a tremendous loss to the Nation. I was privileged to have had the opportunity to meet with the cardinal on more than one occasion, and to say that I was impressed is really a vast understatement. I have to say he was a wonderful man to work with when we had common cause with which we were trying to achieve a goal. He was there, he was present, and he was always working very hard for all of us. His presence commanded attention and respect. His awareness of individuals, their hopes, aspirations and desires brought him an empathy that very few can duplicate. His humor was gentle, sometimes trenchant, and always amusing. John Cardinal O'Connor built bridges of understanding among the most diverse communities of New York and won the respect of the leaders of many faiths in the city. Today, we mourn the loss of a true leader, a visionary and a peacemaker whose moral convictions continue to stand as a great example for all of us. Even when he was suffering from the ravages of brain cancer, his humor was irrepressible and his advocacy undiminished. As Cardinal O'Connor is in our prayers, we must now also pray for the Archdiocese of New York that his successor can fill his tremendous shadow with the same qualities that made him such a great man.”