Freedom gives us the choice to love God, Cardinal Timothy Dolan told hundreds of Mass-goers at the New York Encounter Sunday morning, a love that can never be compelled.  

In a Mass concelebrated by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, along with Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, permanent representative of the Holy See to the United Nations, Bishop Robert Brennan of Brooklyn, and Bishop James Massa, rector of Saint Joseph’s Seminary.   

An opportunity for encounter 

Cardinal Pierre read a message from Pope Leo XIV addressed to all participants. In it, the Holy Father framed the New York Encounter not as an isolated event, but as the beginning of a renewed way of living in the world: 

“Pope Leo XIV is confident that, with this awareness, all who attend will seek to transform their neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities into places of true encounter and welcome. Assuring those gathered of his spiritual closeness, the Holy Father gladly invokes upon all God’s blessing of wisdom and joy,” Cardinal Pierre said. 

One of the participants, Moira Kelleher, spoke simply about why she chose to attend the Encounter. “I really wanted to engage with some of the questions that are being addressed,” she said. “I wanted to hear them explored in a place of faith.” Kelleher was visiting the New York area from Ireland. 

The New York Encounter is an annual three-day cultural event held in New York City, usually in February, featuring panel discussions, exhibits, and performances focused on faith, culture, and current events. This year’s event was held at the Metropolitan Pavilion in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. 

Reflecting on righteous choice 

In his homily, Cardinal Dolan returned again and again to the theme of freedom, not as license or self-assertion, but as a response to God’s invitation. 

“God invites us into freedom. He gives us space to choose,” Cardinal Dolan said. “He imposes nothing but proposes everything. He nudges, never pushes. He whispers, rarely yells. He invites, never forces.” 

Drawing on Scripture, Church history, and lived experience, the cardinal challenged common assumptions about autonomy and independence. 

“Since Eden, we have misunderstood freedom,” he preached. “We think it means doing whatever we want, whenever we want, however we want, with whomever we want. But the Lord reveals something deeper: freedom is not the license to do whatever we want; it is the choice to do what we ought,” he said. 

Cardinal Dolan illustrated this understanding of freedom with the story of a prisoner who, through faith and conversion, discovered that no prison walls could contain. As the cardinal recalled the man’s words, the point became unmistakable: 

“Freedom does not depend on where you live or what you have, but on who you are: a child of God, redeemed by Jesus Christ. That is a freedom no prison cell can take away.” He added that prisoner received parole and now attends Mass on Sundays at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. 

The New York Encounter concluded Sunday afternoon, after presenting 25 events and five exhibitions.