Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, released the following statement today after learning of the passing of Bishop emeritus Matthew Clark of the Diocese of Rochester:

“My brother, Bishop Matano: 

            “To you, the priests, religious sisters and brothers, faithful Catholics, and wider community, my love, sympathy, and unity in prayer as I hear the somber news of the passing of Bishop-emeritus Matthew Clark. 

            “While, given the fragile state of his health these recent years, we realized that he would soon be going home, his death still leaves a void in our lives, as we have savored and counted upon his gentle, wise, holy presence for decades, myself since I met him in 1973. 

            “Like you, I praise God for his person, his vocation, his long life, and ask the Jesus he loved and served to embrace Matthew for all eternity.”