Hundreds Of New Yorkers Head To Rome For Cardinal-Designate Dolan's Elevation
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New York's Archbishop Timothy Dolan is already in Rome for Saturday's ceremony, which will elevate him to the rank of cardinal. Hundreds of New Yorkers are heading there as well.
Ann and Vincent Brana, very active and generous Catholics, are going to Rome to see the cardinals elevated, including their own archbishop.
"He's a wonderful, great man. He'll do a great job," Ann Brana told CBS 2's John Slattery.
"He's an incredible man and deserving everything and the wonderful news he's getting for the Catholic Church," Vincent Brana added.
An estimated 500 pilgrims are flying over for this Saturday's celebration, which will elevate Archbishop Dolan, and 21 others to the rank of cardinal, increasing the number of those eligible to vote for a new pope to 108. Dick Lolatte said Dolan would be a good choice, should the need arise.
"I think he'd be a great pope, a man of the world. I think he'd be a great pope," Lolatte said.
Such a New York moment has not happened since 2001, when Edward Egan, now retired, was made cardinal.
The New York Archdiocese Festival Chorale will be going to perform at St. Peter's Basilica and other churches in Rome, but not just Catholics are going.
The Park Avenue Synagogue's senior Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, who has worked with Dolan on interfaith affairs, said the archbishop is a friend of the Jews.
"It's really an opportunity to celebrate with him and look to the years ahead of partnership and cooperation and friendship," said Cosgrove.
Dolan has said the elevation is not so much an honor for him, but for the Archdiocese he serves.
Once elevated, the New York Archdiocese will have a rarity: two voting cardinals until Cardinal Egan reaches his 80th birthday on April 2.
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