As with a legion of others, I mourn the passing of Dr. Henry Kissinger, and offer sentiments of reverence, sympathy, and gratitude to Nancy, his family, and his many friends.

 

While I have admired and followed his international work closely for half a century, I feel privileged to have gotten close to him since my arrival here in New York almost 15 years ago. He had worked with my predecessors, Cardinals Terence Cooke, John O’Connor, and, especially, Edward Egan, and that cooperation and friendship, I am happy to say, continued with me. That one of his last public appearances was with us at the Al Smith Dinner five weeks ago means a lot to us.

 

I thank God for his efforts at peace, and was inspired by his profound appreciation of the indispensable role of history, culture, and religion in world affairs. He savored his meetings with Pope St. John Paul II, and his countryman, Pope Benedict XVI. Never did he say no to my requests for counsel, or his support of a cause.