Dolan gave a heartfelt tribute to Pope Francis following the reading of the Gospel at Easter Monday's morning Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan, referencing the Easter story of when women discovered the empty tomb of Jesus.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan led a mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York to honor the pope and discussed the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope. =

Dolan used the 45-minute midday Mass to laud the late pontiff as “a gift to be long savored” and “a troubadour of God’s mercy.”