On May 13, 2025, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, received the following message of condolence from Pope Leo XIV, via the Vatican’s Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C.:

HIS EMINENCE CARDINAL TIMOTHY DOLAN
ARCHBISHOP OF NEW YORK

HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV WAS SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE DEATH OF AUXILIARY BISHOP EMERITUS GERALD WALSH. AND HE SENDS PRAYERFUL CONDOLENCES TO YOU, THE CLERGY, RELIGIOUS, AND LAY FAITHFUL OF THE ARCHDIOCESE. RECALLING WITH GRATITUDE HIS MANY YEARS OF DEVOTED PRIESTLY AND EPISCOPAL SERVICE TO THE CHURCH IN NEW YORK, MARKED BY DEDICATION TO PASTORAL MINISTRY, CARE FOR THE POOR AND MOST VULNERABLE AND THE FORMATION OF FUTURE PRIESTS, HIS HOLINESS COMMENDS THE LATE BISHOP’S SOUL TO THE LOVE AND MERCY OF CHRIST THE GOOD SHEPHERD. TO ALL PRESENT AT THE MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL AND TO THOSE WHO MOURN BISHOP WALSH’S DEATH IN THE SURE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION, THE HOLY FATHER CORDIALLY IMPARTS HIS BLESSING AS A PLEDGE OF CONSOLATION AND PEACE IN THE RISEN LORD.

CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN
SECRETARY OF STATE