The life and career of Charles Rangel, who served five Congressional districts during 23 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, were remembered at a funeral Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan Friday.

Former President Bill Clinton, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi were among the thousands of mourners who attended the Mass for Rangel, who died on May 26. He was 94.

Rangel’s casket entered the cathedral, escorted by a military honor guard and draped in an American flag. The Harlem native was decorated with a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for his service during the Korean War.

Hochul, who was the first to offer a tribute to Rangel, said, “I want to acknowledge the presence of so many who traveled to be here, not to mourn Charlie, but to celebrate an extraordinary life,” she said, to applause. “Charlie was a giant in American life. He was a warrior from his days back on the battlefield,” she said.

“He was a good man, had a big heart, a big personality, got big things,” Jeffries said. “He saved over 40 members of his unit who were under attack by the Chinese, he told us the story often. Had he done nothing else in his life, he would have done more than most Americans have ever done for their country. But that wasn’t the end of Charlie Rangel’s story,” he said.

“If he was your friend, you never had to look over your shoulder,” former President Bill Clinton said. Clinton credited Rangel for helping him to put his post-presidential office on 125^th Street in Harlem, where it remains today. “Charlie Rangel stood by every single solitary person he ever tried to help,” he said.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan began the Mass of Christian burial, welcoming the body, and then offering condolences to members of the Rangel family.

Father Kareem Smith, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Church and president of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, was the Mass’ principal celebrant. Concelebrants included Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, executive director of Catholic Charities of New York, and Father Enrique Salvo, rector of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

In a 25-minute homily, Father Gregory Chisholm, S.J., former pastor of St Charles Borromeo, Resurrection, and All Saints Parish in Harlem, recalled the prophet Amos. “Charles Bernard Rangel, United States Congressman, was devoted to at least two things that put me in the mind of the prophet Amos. Two things: justice and righteousness. He was devoted to ensuring justice for men, women, and especially children who were economically poor, or who were racially oppressed, or who were excluded from the organs of power. Mr. Rangel was committed to a relationship with God which manifested itself in a demonstration of those gifts of the spirit which St. Paul the apostle identified as love, joy, peace, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, and self-control.”

“Congressman Rangel would quote the 25^th chapter of Matthew, where the Lord tells His disciples that when He returns in the final days, He will reward with a share in the joy of His kingdom, all those who fed the Lord when He was hungry, who gave the Lord drink when He was thirsty, who gave Him a roof over His head, who put clothes on His back, who took care of Jesus when He was sick, and who showed concern for Him when Jesus was in prison. We all know that Charlie Rangel wasn’t perfect, but let that perfect person throw that first stone at him, please,” Father Chisholm said.

Rangel’s home parish was St. Aloysius Church on West 132^nd Street in Harlem, where he was an altar boy. Rangel was among the longest-serving House members, a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee (2007-2010), one the chamber’s most powerful committees.

His body lay in state both there and at New York City Hall before Friday’s Mass of Christian Burial.

Rangel was pre-deceased by his wife Alma. He is survived by a son, Steven, a daughter, Alicia Rangel Haughton, and three grandsons.